Journaling Jerry's journeys

Rapa Nui, 11 October 2015

First stop today was a visit to the Museo Antropologico P. Sebastion Englert. Even my pigeon Spanish can translate 'Museo,' and the map shows exactly where it is: find the cemetery, go up two blocks and turn left. I only got lost a couple of times.

The museum has displays with descriptions in both Spanish and
(thankfully) English, telling the history of the Rapa Nui people, some speculation on the significance of the Moai (big stone heads), the rise of the birdman cult, the warring tribes, influence of western civilization, and has artifacts from around the island.

Moai at the Museo

There are Moai all over the place, about 900 total scattered around the Island in various conditions. The warring tribes knocked over most of statues, so there are fallen Moai lying face down in front of their Ahu (stone platforms), some intact, some broken. The Moai that are standing on their Ahu have been re-erected.

Rapa Nui Manuscript

The spoken language of the Rapa Nui people has been handed down and is still spoken today, but the written language has been lost. It is speculated that only the elite members of the tribes were taught to read and write. There are carved wooden manuscripts with Rapa Nui writing, the lines of text are written horizontally (left to right? right to left? who knows). At the end of a line of text, the manuscript is turned upside down and the next line is read, so every other line is inverted. Wikipedia has an article on this writing style, look for "reverse boustrophedon."

Sculpture at the museum

There's an interesting sculpture at the museum. I don't know its significance.

The Cemetary

The catholic cemetery is outside of town, and is quite colorful.

Cemetery in Hanga Roa

Moai everywhere!

Tahai Moai

On the edge of Hanga Roa are a few nice examples of Moai standing on their Ahu. There's not a lot to say: they're big, carved out of lava rock, and standing on their Ahu.

Moai at Hana Kio'e

Moai at Hana Kio'e

Complete Moai

This Moai is complete with eyes and a Pukao (top hat). The hat was quarried from a different volcano and made of red lava rock. Many of the Moai on the island have lost their hat and eyes, so this one is significant for it's completeness.

Toppled Moai

Toppled Moai at Akahanga

Leaving the village of Hanga Roa, there are many sites of fallen Moai. This is one has a sign that reads, "Ahu Ura Uranga te Mahina", and another sign here reads, "Akahanga."

The Quarry

The Rano Raraku quarry from a distance

The quarry at Rano Raraku is open to visitors from 0900 until 1800, and it was already 1730 when we arrived. We saw just enough from a distance to convince us that we really need half a day to wander around in there.

Tongariki 

Tongariki has the most stunning display of Moai on the island, with 15 statues lined up near the ocean. The scale is massive, visible for miles.

Tongariki Moai

That's it for today. Tomorrow, a visit to the quarry, petroglyphs, and more Moai.

Jerry