Our First Moais: Ahu Akiviki

December 2, 2013

Easter Island was formed by the fusion of three different volcanoes. The first one erupted three million years ago. None are currently active. The island measures 14 miles at its longest point. The first humans came to Easter Island somewhere between 600 and 900 AD. In contrast to the theory that Thor Heyerdahl proposed in Kon Tiki that the island was colonized by Peruvians who sailed west, genetic and linguistic evidence has conclusively shown that the original Rapanui people were of Polynesian ancestry and sailed east.

Throughout Polynesia people believed that an important person’s mana or spirit, continued to be influential long after the person died. This was a form of ancestor worship, which was demonstrated by the creation of the moais, giant sculptures that were meant to protect the people living in the tribal villages.

The moais were carved from volcanic rock at the site of one of the volcanoes and moved elsewhere on the island. How these giant (30 foot) statues were transported across several miles remains a mystery even today. On Rapa Nui there are 887 registered moats, of which 288 are on platforms (known as ahus). The ahus were grave sites and contained the bones of the village leaders.

Ahu Akiviki was one of the first restored platforms with seven moais on it who face the sea. It dates from about 1400 AD. The platform is aligned with the rising sun on the vernal and autumnal equinoxes.