EASTER ISLAND/ Isla de Pascua

What a beautiful little island paradise, noted as the most isolated inhabited island in the world. Isla de Pascua is located 1/2 way between Chile and Tahiti and has a strong Polynesian influence. We were enthralled with the people, culture, history, etc. Of course we were mesmerized by the myths/stories of the Rapa Nui people; natives that still inhabit the island, carrying with them the strong traditions of their ancestors. The history of the "Giant Heads," was intriguing also. Here's what we learned....

They were carved by family members of each tribe or clan that lived on the island. The heads were representative of their father, king, or great leader, who they wanted to immortalize. Each family would place their statue next to the other. Most of them stood facing into the island, not away towards the ocean, as they were standing like guards. However, they also would insert shells and stones that looked like eyes, so they could also be vigilantly observing their people, making sure they made correct choices.

The mysterious part is that some weigh more than 60 tons! We will put on some of the fotos of the area along the volcanic mtn side that the natives used the stone to create these giants. They believe the 3 main volcanoes erupted 10, 5, and 4 million years ago. Hard to fathom. However, the most mysterious part is how did they move them? They have histories dating back so far that some actually talked of the statues themselves "Walking" their way down to the beaches! There were also the theories of rolling them, or placing rollers under them, like the Egyptians moved the stones to build pyramids, but these theories don't quite fit, as they would have shown broken faces, rubbed or wear marks where movement had to have happened. However most agree that they were, "walked" by rocking them back and forth, like moving a high, huge refrigerator still standing up, so that could use ropes around their necks and tilt back and forth with some tension on all areas. Still a major feat in those days that must have taken days, months to go the distance they did all around the island. Most assume that they are carved around the 1400's, which still baffles my mind thinking of them in the times of Christopher Columbus and the technology available at that time, but even more unbelievable on a small, distant island. Thor Heyerdahl had his own theory too, that influences came from certain people sailing here from Peru, in reed boats, that brought different facial features, some with 'long ears,' and others that had lighter, reddish colored hair. We enjoyed learning all about the traditions and myths too. It gave me thoughts and ideas about Mosiah 5:15, for a talk about us always being firm/steadfast and immovable!