Easter
Island is a mysterious place in the South Pacific in which giant stone statues
echo their historical enchantments. The island is located 2,300 miles from
Chile’s west coast and 2,500 miles east of Tahiti. The island was formerly
referred to Rapa Nui to its first inhabitants. The island was later christened
Paaseiland or Easter Island by the Dutch explorers to honor the day of their
arrival in 1722. The island was annexed by Chile during the 19th
century and today it mainly serves as a place where many come to visit each
year, a tourism location. Many visit the mystifying sites such as the giant
statues, the ceremonial village of Orongo and the Rano Kao volcano.
The creators of the enormous statues
were considered master craftsmen and engineers. These marvels are distinctive
to other sculptures discovered in the Polynesian cultures. The role the statues
served in the ancient Polynesian civilization and the way they have been
constructed and transported has puzzled many for centuries.
Rapa Nui was the first name given to
Easter Island by the Polynesians. The first king of Rap Nui was Hoto-Matua, a
ruler possibly from the Marquesa Islands. The approximately 900 large statues provides
the greatest evidence that a rich culture was established by the original
inhabitants. The statues averaged 13 feet in height and weighed approximately
13 tons. The huge stone busts were referred to as “moai.” They were carved out
of porous rock formed by volcanic ash. It is still a wonder how the statues
were moved all over the island.
There were distinct cultural phases:
the early period (700-850 A.D.), the middle period (1050 – 1680), and the late
period (after 1680). Between the first two phases there was evidence that many
early statues were destroyed and the statues were rebuilt. The later statues
were larger and heavier. During the middle period burial chambers were
constructed. The moai were believed to represent the important people who were
deified after their death. The biggest statue found constructed during the
middle period measured 32 feet tall and weighed approximately 82 tons.
The later period, laced with civil
wars and destruction, involved many statues being pushed over and many obsidian
spear points were found. Two competing ethnic groups existed during this time
period: The Short-Ears and the Long-Ears. Many lost their lives during heated
conflicts.
The first known European traveler to
set foot on the island was a Dutch explorer named Jaob Roggeveen. He arrived in
1722. As stated earlier, the Dutch named the island Paaseiland or Easter Island
to celebrate their date of arrival.
After about 50 years in 1770, the
Spanish viceroy of Peru sent explorers to the island. They spent four days and
estimated the population to be at approximately 3,000 people. Four years later
after a civil war the British navigator Sir James Cook arrived to find that the
island’s population dropped to only 600 to 700 men with only about 30 women
still remaining.
Jean-Francois de Galaup, a French
explorer, discovered 2,000 people on the island when he arrive in 1786. The
major influx of people was decimated by a slave raid from Peru in 1862 which
was made worse by smallpox being introduced to the small community. The
population was reduced to 111 by 1877. Catholic missionaries decided to settle
on the island to convert the natives to Christianity. Chile annexed the island
and rented much of the land for sheep raising. In 1965 the government of Chile
appointed a governor for Easter Island. The residents of the island became
citizens of Chile.
Easter Island was formed by a series
of volcanic eruptions. It is 14 miles long and seven miles wide. The hilly terrain
and subterranean caves filled with corridors extend into the mountains of
volcanic rock serve as a challenge for people who want to explore the island.
The largest volcano is Rano Kao and the highest point is Mount Terevaka, which
reaches 1,969 feet above sea level. The climate is subtropical and sunny and
dry.
In 1995, UNESCO named Easter Island
a World Heritage site. The island has no natural harbor, however, ships can
anchor on the west coast at Hanga Roa, the island’s largest village with a
population of about 3,300. The island houses a mixed population, mostly of
Polynesian ancestry, and the Spanish language is the most prevalent language
spoken. The economy is supported by tourism.
The history of the island involves
visitors from many countries. The mysterious large Polynesian statues have
provided an unsolved puzzle for many for centuries. Why and how were they
constructed? The island serves as a tourist attraction for many today.
Reference
History.com.
Easter Island. Retrieved on March 7,
2017 from www.history.com/topics/easter-
island
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