Easter Island

Historical
Background
 Historical Background

The arrival of seafarers Early settlements and Clan wars, deforestation,

from Central Polynesia the construction of rat infestation, and
(700 - 1100 CE) mo’ais famines
 Historical Background

The arrival of Population decline Annexation to Chile in

Europeans in 1722 1888
Artifacts: Ahu
and Mo’ai
 Ahu and Mo’ai

The Mo’ai are human

figures carved by the
Rapa Nui people

The earliest was made

around 1000 CE to 1200
CE, while most were
made around 1200 CE to
1500 CE
Ahu and Mo’ai

Made on the spot from

volcanic rock in the
Ranu Raraku Quarry
then transported to
other parts of the island.

Many of the sculptures

are actually found there.
 Ahu and Mo’ai

The Ahu are the stone

platforms around the
island upon which the
Mo’ai are set.

The Mo’ai are

representations of the
Rapa Nui ancestors.
How were they transported?
Refrigerator Method
 “
Neke-neke

Inching forward by moving the body with no legs

Restoration
and Reconstruction
 Norwegian Archaelogical Expedition

1955-1956
Thor Heyerdahl
First Mo’ai was re-erected
 Pilot Program of The Archaeological
the University of Heritage of Rapa
Chile Nui
restored Ahu Akivi and Led the International
Ahu Vai Teka Fund for Monuments to
establish the Easter
Island Committee in
1967
Restoration
Possibilities or Problematics?
 Two reasons for restoration

1.Monuments in ruins 2. The restoration makes

are not respected and the monuments more
can suffer more understandable and can
vandalism give a positive input into
tourism
 Issues

1. Not in situ, loss of original data and

context
2. Why not preserve instead?
Restoration as an act
of Identity:

Who owns the past?

 Who owns the past?

42% of the island is a UNESCO Heritage

Site

A large part of the remaining land is a

state-owned farm

The locals own very little of their island

 What is Rapa Nui culture?

Tourism is the biggest source of income,

but is that all there is for the locals?

Would restoring archaeological sites be

the best way to regain and reinforce
Rapa Nui identity?
El Emboque
game
 El Emboque

◈ Ball-in-a-cup/Cup and Ball

◈ Independence Day (18th of
September)
◈ Other Games:
○ Rayuela, Palo ensebado, El volantin, Pillar el
cancho, El emboque, El trompo
 El Emboque

“To put in the mouth”

Wooden bell with a hole

attached with a string and
stick
 El Emboque

Objective: get the bell to flip

from a hanging position and
fall onto the end of the stick
 References

https://journals.lib.washington.edu/index.php/BIPPA/article/viewFile/11884/10511
Hunt, Terry, and Carl Lipo. The Statues that Walked. Simon and Schuster, 2011.
http://www.smithsonianmag.com/travel/the-mystery-of-easter-island-151285298/
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/ancient/pioneers-of-easter-island.html
https://www.nationalgeographic.org/media/quarry-easter-island/