Caroline and Patrick on the Easter Island - page 2

Why does Easter Island belong to Chili?

As a matter of fact, nobody else wanted the island. Dutch, English and French discovered it. Even Americans and Russians paid a visit in the nineteenth century. A French adventurer from the same period tried to conquer it for France, but had never received an answer from the French government.

Eventually, Don Policarpo Toro, commander of the Chilean fleet, declared the island a territory of Chili. Save a few archaeologists, noone showed any interest for the country. The only protests came from a few archaeologists.

When and how were the maoi made?

De moai date from between 1000 and 1500. They were hewn out of the volcano side and moved on wooden rollers. Quite a job! The island might be small (about 9 miles of 15 km long), but these colossuses measure 12 to 15 feet (3.5 to 5.5 m) and weigh about 10 to 15 metric tons. After 1700 the Easter Islanders did not make statues any more, may be because of civil warfare.

What are ahu?

Ahu are stone structures, comparable to altars. They were used as pedestals for maoi and as well as burial places.

What are moai?

Maoi are statues representing the ancestors. Most of them stand at the coast, with their backs to the sea, as, in the belief of the islanders, they were caring about the community. The statues are of volcanic stone and some have a headgear of red volcanic stone. They used to have eyes of white coral reef and red stone, giving them a human appearance.

Why aren't there any woods on Easter Island?

Research has shown that there it used to be forested. However, the natives needed so much wood for heating and also for the transport of the maoi, that the natural forest growth of the wood lagged behind with the wood consumption - with the known results!