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Click on any photo for a larger view. Many of the photos appearing here have been donated to our site by visitors who have returned from Easter Island wanting to share their experiences. |
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Rano Raraku's cliffs and slopes are littered with statues. This was the island's great
moai quarry. Most statues carved on the island came from this one site. |
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The entrance path to Rano Raraku. |
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A similar view on a sunny day. |
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Dozens of statues dot the exterior quarry slopes. |
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Paths lead around the slopes so visitors can see the statues still lying in the matrix of the rock, in various stages of completion. |
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The
moai at the foot of the Rano Raraku quarry eternally wait transport to their intended
ahu. |
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More
moai...abandoned haphazardly. |
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The north side of Rano Raraku. |
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A
cleft at the top of Rano Raraku. Far in the distance are the ocean cliffs of Rano Kao. |
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This view shows some of the statues on the interior slopes of the crater. In the distance is the peak at Poike, with its small cluster of trees. Note
(in the larger view) two persons walking on the edge of the cliffs. Please be extremely careful;
accidents happen. |
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Tukuturi, the kneeling statue, at Rano Raraku. This was excavated by Heyerdhal's crew who declared it to be the first of its type. However, others believe it to be a later effort. In any event, although unusual, it is not unique on the island. |
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Tuku turi, with Poike
Peninsula in the distance. This photo was taken before Tongariki was reconstructed. Today the
fifteen restored moai are standing in the distance near the shore. |
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Again, Tukuturi. In the larger view you can clearly see
Tongariki far below, near the shore.
"Tuku turi" means "squatter". This is the traditional pose for those giving an oral recitation or song. With just a little imagination, we can see an ancient,
bearded Rapanui sitting on his heels and rhythmically moving back and forth
while reciting an old legend or maybe even reading
from a rongorongo tablet.
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Three statues "in process" of being carved. Two are lying prone, one above the other,
with the top of a third one is on the right. At times the statues were left unfinished if, in the process of carving, a flaw was discovered (such as an inclusion of basalt
which would make it difficult or
impossible to complete — or rob the
statue of its mana or sacred
power). Most statues in the quarry were simply abandoned when
ahu construction ceased, during the final inter-tribal wars. |
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William Mulloy at the foot of the Rano Raraku
moai quarry. Photo taken in the
1960s. |
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Please help protect Easter Island's precious resources. Do not walk or climb on the statues, ahus, petroglyphs, etc. Read about tourism's impact here. |
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All text, photos & design © 2005 by the Easter Island Foundation.
Photographs or text should not be used without written permission.
04/26/06
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