EASTER ISLAND, A NATIONAL PARK IN THE PACIFIC ISLAND

THIS IS A POLYNESIAN ISLAND.   IN  THE SOUTHEAST PACIFIC ISLAND AT THE POINT OF POLYNESIAN TRIANGLE.  THIS ISLAND IS FAMOUS FOR 887 EXTANT MONUMENTAL STATUES.  THESE ARE CALLED MOAI MADE BY PAPANUI PEOPLE.    MUCH OF THE ISLAND IS RAPA NUI NATIONAL PARK.  IT NOW IS AN EXAMPLE OF CULTURAL/ENVIRONMENTAL DANGER OF OVER EXPLOITATION.

IN THE 1860'S EUROPEAN SAILORS AND PERUVIAN SLAVE RAIDING DEVASTATED THE LOCAL PEOPLES BY THEIR DISEASES. IT IS THE MOST THE MOST REMOTE INHABITED ISLAND IN THE WORLD.

THE MOAI ARE MONOLTHIC HUMAN FIGURES CARVED FROM ROCK IN 1250 TO 1500 A.D.   MANY ARE STILL AT THE MOAI QUARRY.  100'S WERE TRANSPORTED.  ALL HAVE LARGE HEADS AND THEY ARE THE LIVING FACES OF DEIFIED ANCESTORS.  THEY STARE INLAND.  MANY WERE THROWN  DOWN DURING LATER CONFLICTS BETWEEN CLANS.  EACH MAOI IS ABOUT 4 METERS HIGH, WITH THE LARGEST AT 10 METERS HIGH!  THEY WEIGH ABOUT 70 TONS EACH!  TO MOVE THESE IT TOOK THEM A REMARKABLE AMOUNT OF ENERGY.  SOME ARE MADE OF TUFF AND OTHERS ARE OF BASALT.   THE MAORI WERE INCOMPLETED WHEN INCLUSIONS IN THE ROCK SLOWED THEM DOWN.

POLLEN ANALYSIS  AT THESE SITES DETERMINED THE ISLAND WAS FORESTED UNTIL C.E.  TREE POLLEN DISAPPEARED.

SOME ORAL HISTORIES RECOUNT HOW VARIOUS PEOPLE USED DIVINE POWER TO COMMAND THE STATUES TO WALK.   1500  PEOPLE MIGHT MOVE THE LARGEST MOAI.

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