Chile Easter Island Inland statues

Ahu Akivi is a particular sacred place in Rapa Nui (or Easter Island) in the Valparaíso Region of Chile, looking out towards the Pacific Ocean. The site has seven moai, all of equal shape and size, and is also known as a celestial observatory that was set up around the 1500s. The site is located inland, rather than along the coast. Moai statues were considered by the early people of Rapa Nui as their ancestors, whom they worshipped as their deity – Make Make. A particular feature of the seven identical moai statues is that they exactly face sunset during the Spring Equinox and have their backs to the sunrise during the Autumn Equinox. Such an astronomical precise feature is seen only at this location on the island.

Next stop was at Puna Pau volcano where they had producing the peculiar red stone used for the topknots adoring some of the statues. They are called 'Pukao' and could weigh up to 30 tons. They were put on the statues as the final touch. Exactly how they managed we don't know, but think it was put on from same levelage.

Click on the the picture to have a larger version

The statues at Ahu Akivi

Other itesm on the site

View on the road to next stop

Some of the Pukao that never were used

Nice area

Here we can see 'all' of the island (almost)

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