Ancestor worship Most researchers believe the mo’ai were created for ancestor worship, and that they represent past chiefs. No two mo’ai are alike, suggesting they represent real historical figures. Moving the mo’ai The mo’ai were carved from volcanic rock at the Rano Raraku quarry and moved to ceremonial platforms called ahu . SOURCE2 shows the locations of five such platforms.
SOURCE2 A map of Rapa Nui showing the location of quarries, pedestrian survey areas, and ahu (ceremonial platforms)
Vai Mata
Anakena
PACIFIC
Te Niu
Anu Nau Nau I
OCEAN
Ahu Ra’ai
Poike
Hiva Hiva
Tongariki
RAPA NUI
Rano Raraku
Key
Tahai
Obsidian quarry
Akahanga
Survey area
Ahu
Orito
Ahu 6-191
Elevation (m)
0 – 99
RK I
100 – 199
Vinapu
RK II
200 – 299
300 – 399
Rano
Kau
400 – 499
2
4 km
0
Motu Iti
500 and above
Source: Based on information from Stevenson, C. M., Ladefoged, T. N., Haoa, S., Chadwick, O., & Puleston, C. (2013). Prehistoric Obsidian Exchange on Rapa Nui. The Journal of Island and Coastal Archaeology, 8(1), 108–121. Map redrawn by Spatial Vision.
SkillBuilder discussion Using historical sources 1. What does the map tell us about the location of quarries on Rapa Nui in comparison to the ceremonial platforms known as ahu? 2. The map shows five separate ahu sites . What geographical features do these sites have in common? 3. How might the ahu have influenced the social and political structure of the Rapanui civilisation? Moving the mo’ai Many mo’ai were moved from the quarries to the ahu over many kilometres, but some did not reach their planned spots and were left where they fell. This could be because they were simply too heavy to move. The largest mo’ai at Ahu Tongariki weighs 86 tonnes. According to legend, the mo’ai ‘walked’ to their places. Modern archaeologists show that by rocking statues from side to side and pulling them with ropes, they can be ‘walked’ across the land. Another method might have been to roll the mo’ai using logs. Both methods had a big impact on the environment. When Captain James Cook visited in 1774, he noticed that there were no trees taller than three metres.
Jacaranda Humanities Alive 8 Victorian Curriculum Third Edition
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