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Uncovering Easter Island Moai, 1955

Moai are monolithic human figures carved by the Rapa Nui people from rock on the Polynesian island of Easter Island between the years 1250 and 1500. Nearly half are still at Rano Raraku, the main moai quarry, but hundreds were transported from there and set on stone platforms called ahu around the island's perimeter. Almost all moai have overly large heads three-eighths the size of the whole statue. The moai are chiefly the living faces (aringa ora) of deified ancestors (aringa ora ata tepuna). The statues still gazed inland across their clan lands when Europeans first visited the island, but most were cast down during later conflicts between clans. From 1955 through 1978, an American archaeologist, William Mulloy, undertook extensive investigation of the production, transportation and erection of Easter Island's monumental statuary. Photo originally captioned: Uncovering a hitherto unknown Easter Island colossal statue. A discovery made last November. Unlike previous known statues this is of red tuff. Published April, 1956.
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Title:
Uncovering Easter Island Moai, 1955
Caption:
Moai are monolithic human figures carved by the Rapa Nui people from rock on the Polynesian island of Easter Island between the years 1250 and 1500. Nearly half are still at Rano Raraku, the main moai quarry, but hundreds were transported from there and set on stone platforms called ahu around the island's perimeter. Almost all moai have overly large heads three-eighths the size of the whole statue. The moai are chiefly the living faces (aringa ora) of deified ancestors (aringa ora ata tepuna). The statues still gazed inland across their clan lands when Europeans first visited the island, but most were cast down during later conflicts between clans. From 1955 through 1978, an American archaeologist, William Mulloy, undertook extensive investigation of the production, transportation and erection of Easter Island's monumental statuary. Photo originally captioned: Uncovering a hitherto unknown Easter Island colossal statue. A discovery made last November. Unlike previous known statues this is of red tuff. Published April, 1956.
Credit:
Album / New York Public Library/SCIENCE SOURCE
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Image size:
4800 x 3147 px | 43.2 MB
Print size:
40.6 x 26.6 cm | 16.0 x 10.5 in (300 dpi)
Keywords: