Moai facing inland at Ahu Tongariki, restored by Chilean archaeologist Claudio Cristino in the 1990s. Moai or moʻai (/ ˈ m oʊ. aɪ / ⓘ MOH-eye; Spanish: moái; Rapa Nui: moʻai, lit. 'statue') are monolithic human figures carved by the Rapa Nui people on Rapa Nui (Easter Island) in eastern Polynesia between the years 1250 and 1500.

Mar 6, 2024 · The Moai were revered and most likely prayed to as icons of godly ancestors. Therefore, the Moai are symbols of status, power, and authority. As they watch over the island and its inhabitants, they work to protect their families.

Moai are megalithic statues often placed upon ahu (ceremonial platforms). They are said to be the aringa ora , the living faces of the ancestors. Hoa Hakananai'a (meaning 'lost, hidden, or stolen friend') is carved from basalt and dates from about 1000–1200.

Oct 19, 2022 · One of the most remote inhabited locations on Earth, Easter Island is famous for the thousand or so enigmatic, towering statues that dot its landscape, called moai.

Dec 17, 2024 · Khan Academy - Voyage to the moai of Rapa Nui (Easter Island) University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa Library - eVols - How did Chile acquire Easter Island? LiveScience - Easter Island (Rapa Nui) and Moai Statues

May 4, 2017 · The Moai are some of the world’s most fascinating and widely-recognised monolithic statues. Located on the remote Chilean territory of Easter Island, they tell a mysterious story of the island’s early people and their obsession with rock carvings.

The large stone statues, or moai, for which Easter Island is famous, were carved in the period 1100–1680 CE (rectified radio-carbon dates). [18] A total of 887 monolithic stone statues have been inventoried on the island and in museum collections. [117]

6 days ago · This exploration delves into the construction and purpose of the Moai, incorporates recent archaeological findings, and examines theories about the decline of the Rapa Nui civilization. The Construction of the Moai. Quarrying and Carving: Rano Raraku Quarry: The majority of the Moai were carved from volcanic tuff at the Rano Raraku quarry. This ...

Moai statues are massive megaliths at Easter Island, and these are what this island is famous for. The moais were built in approximately 1400 - 1650 A.D. by the natives of this island also known as Rapa Nui. Many know them as the Easter Island heads.

Jun 21, 2024 · Rapa Nui, also known as Easter Island (a name given to it by Europeans), is located in the southeast Pacific and is famous for its approximately 1,000 carvings of moai, human-faced statues.