The director of the Easter Island Statue Project, Van Tilburg, believed in the importance of debunking misconceptions that surrounded the Moai. Tilburg made a strong point by exclaiming that “the reason people think they are [only] heads is there are about 150 statues buried up to the shoulders on the slope of a volcano, and these are the most famous, most beautiful and most photographed of all the Easter Island statues. This suggested to people who had not seen photos of [other unearthed statues] that they are heads only.”
Indeed, if people only took the time to do a bit of study and research on the latest discoveries of the Moai, they would know exactly what Tilburg was talking about. They would also change their perceptions about the Moai; that they are more than just strange heads popping out from the ground and making for good photographs, but living relics left by people who roamed the vast Pacific Ocean long before the time of European explorers. Most importantly, these bizarre stone figures may hold the key to finally unlocking the mysterious past of these once-great island people.
Different Statues
One structure that typically gets overshadowed by the grandeur of Easter Island’s famed stone heads is the Mo’ai Kavakava. These ancient crafts were tiny figures made from wood depicting lanky men. The bizarre structures also hail from Easter Island.
The word Kavakava directly means “ribs” in Rapa Nui, which is logical due to the skinny form of the man portrayed by the wooden figures. Many historians and archaeologists believe that the Mo’ai Kavakava symbolized hungry evil spirits and were worn by priests and other spiritual men when they performed ritualistic dances. These men would carry the emblems around their necks like a necklace in special gatherings and events of the community.
The Legend of Akivi
The sacred grounds of Ahu Akivi play an especially important role in the rich history of both the island and the people of Rapa Nui. Seven identically built Moai erect upright from the ground, aligned straight together side by side, with their heads facing the sunset in the arrival of the Spring Equinox. With the advent of the Autumn Equinox, they would then shift their gaze away from the sunrise.
The seven aligned statues symbolize the seven guardians who were visited by the King’s astral form during a dream. The spirit of the King gave the seven protectors direct orders to wait for him and his scouts to come back from their journey over the Pacific Ocean. And wait for an eternity they did in the form of statues…
Certainly Secluded
Be warned that if you're interested in checking out the Moai Heads yourself, it may not be a quick journey. In fact, Easter Island is regarded as one of the planet's most secluded and isolated inhabited islands.
The only other sign of life near Easter Island is Pitcairn Island which is a whopping 2,075 km away!
Who Is Hotu Matu’a
One of the many legends surrounding the enigma that is Easter Island is that of King Hotu Matu’a. After receiving a warning in his dreams that his nation named Hiva would plummet into the ocean, the king ordered seven explorers, with a Moai statue as their cargo, to find a new home.
As the legend goes, the seven explorers eventually stumbled upon Easter Island, where they erected the Moai statue. Hotu Matu'a and his kingdom soon followed.