...that Polynesian adventurers set sail around 1200ad heading east in search of a
heavenly island seen in dreams by their king. He set foot on Easter Island at Anakena Beach. The settlers learned to farm the rugged land and live off the bountiful sea. Life was good. More settlers came and they settle into tribes. Pretty typical story to this point.
The came the moai statues. Rapa Nui tribes used the mountains of the Rano Raraku quarry to carve immense statues of their leaders and VIPs. Made from tuf, a soft rock, the moai were actually carved while still in the mountainside then "freed" and later moved around the island to permanent sites with their tribe. The moai were not "alive" until their eyes were carved on site. They faced their village to provide protection and symbolize fertility of land and people.
The mystery of how the moai were moved is unknown to this day. How were the statues- over 1000 still remain- moved without machinery to their final resting places? Remember, these statues are as tall as 37 feet tall and weigh several tons. Were they laid down and moved using logs or wheels of some kind? Were they standing and nudged along by crews with rope? How were the heavy red rock topknots placed on the moai heads? The mystery remains to this day although theories abound.
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