Easter Island is a tiny island in the south Pacific Ocean, first populated by Polynesian seafarers about 700 AD. It is most famous for the stunning megalithic sculptures called moai. Moai are human heads, sometimes with inlaid coral or shell eyes, who were carved out of volcanic deposits at the Rano Raraku quarry. There are over 900 moai on Easter Island, all carved between about 1000 and 1600 AD.
Much has been made of the moai in the popular press, particularly how the construction of them paralleled the political and ecological crisis that occurred on the island in the 17th century. But what's missed, I've always thought, is understanding where the moai fit into their landscape. Moai were set in all kinds of environments, and that's interesting, from a visual standpoint and a cultural. This photo essay is simply to see what the moai look like in their places.
More on Easter Island
More information about Easter Island and what archaeologists and historians and the Easter Islanders themselves tell about this fascinating stuff can be found here:
- Easter Island glossary entry
- Archaeology Quiz: Easter Island
- Terry Hunt on Genocide at Easter Island
- Visiting Easter Island, South America for Visitors
- Moai with Coral Inlaid Eyes on Coast, Easter IslandMoai with Coral Inlaid Eyes on Coast, Easter Island
- Moai in a MeadowMoai in a Meadow, Easter Island
- Upland MoaiUpland Moai, Easter Island
- Five Moai on PedestalsFive Moai on Pedestals, Easter Island
- Moai Head in RubbleMoai Head in Rubble, Easter Island
- Moai Heads on a HillsideMoai Heads on a Hillside, Easter Island
- Moai on a HillsideMoai on a Hillside, Easter Island
- Moai on the Coast at SunsetMoai on the Coast at Sunset, Easter Island
- Moai on the PathMoai on the Path, Easter Island
- One and Fifteen MoaiOne and Fifteen Moai, Easter Island
- Recycled MoaiRecycled Moai, Easter Island
- Three Moai on the CoastThree Moai on the Coast, Easter Island
- Graphic Index
- Text Index
