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What are the moais of Ahu akivi?
Moai statues were considered by the early people of Rapa Nui as their ancestors or Tupuna that were believed to be the reincarnation of important kings or leaders of their clans. The Moais were erected to protect and bring prosperity to their clan and village. At Ahu Akivi, the moai face the ocean.
What is an ahu on Easter Island?
The word “ahu” has two meanings in Easter Island culture. First, an ahu is the flat mound or stone pedestal upon which the moai stand. The ahus are, on average, about four feet high. The word ‘ahu’ also signifies a sacred ceremonial site where several moai stand.
Who built Ahu tongariki?
Tadano Limited
The five-year project was carried out under an official agreement among the Chilean government, the University of Chile, and Japan-based crane manufacturer Tadano Limited.
Where are Los moais?
Easter Island
Moai /ˈmoʊ. aɪ/ ( listen) or moʻai (Spanish: moái, Rapa Nui: moʻai, meaning “statue” in Rapa Nui) are monolithic human figures carved by the Rapa Nui people on Easter Island in eastern Polynesia between the years 1250 and 1500.
What is ahu statue?
Rapa Nui’s ahu (shrines) vary in size and form. There are at least 360 on the island. “Image ahu” are those with statues (moai). Ahu have consistent features: a raised platform made of fitted stones and rubble, a ramp that is often paved with beach cobbles, called poro, and a leveled court in front.
How many moai are there?
Archaeologists have documented 887 of the massive statues, known as moai, but there may up as many as 1,000 of them on the island. Most were carved from volcanic rock between 1100 and 1680.
How many moais are on Easter Island?
Why is Ahu Tongariki important?
Ahu Tongariki is the largest ceremonial structure built on Easter Island and the most important megalithic monument in all of Polynesia. It represents the zenith of the sacred constructions called ahu-moai that were developed in Rapa Nui for more than 500 years.
What is ahu Nau Nai?
Located near the Anakena Beach on the northern part of Easter Island, Ahu Nau Nau is an archaeological site comprising of 7 restored moai statues. One of the most beautiful places on the island, several Petroglyphs representing animals and a lizard man are also found here.
How many ahu are on Easter Island?
Who made moai?
the Rapa Nui people
The Moai are a collection of large monolithic statues built by the Rapa Nui people of Easter Island.
Who built Easter Island heads?
The Easter Island heads are known as Moai by the Rapa Nui people who carved the figures in the tropical South Pacific directly west of Chile. The Moai monoliths, carved from stone found on the island, are between 1,100 and 1,500 CE.
Why was Ahu tongariki built?
Moais with full bodies visible at Ahu Tongariki. Moai statues were built to honor chieftain or other important people who had passed away. They were placed on rectangular stone platforms called ahu, which are tombs for the people that the statues represented.
When was Ahu tongariki built?
It is believed that this period began after 1500 AD. reaching its peak at the end of the seventeenth century.