Easter Island - Tourist Information
Easter Island also known as "Rapa Nui" or "Isla de Pascua" is a mysterious open air museum with massive stone statutes (Moai) dotting the coastline around the island. Officially the Island is a land of Chile and one of the worlds most isolated regions, situated on a triangle of volcanic rock in the South Pacific over 2,000 miles from the nearest population centres of Tahiti and Chile.
The island is known among the world's most sacred sites, famous for its giant stone busts, built centuries ago, they signify the history of this dramatic rise and collapse of an isolated Polynesian culture.
Locally today it's called Rapa Nui.
There has been much confusion and controversy as to the source of the Easter Islanders. Some believe Peruvians built the statues, some feel that the Island is a slice of a continent that was lost. DNA has proven that Polynesians were the earliest settlers arriving around 400 AD from the west in large boats. This is seen as remarkable given that Easter Island is such a fantastic distance from other property. Legend has it they were searching for additional property as their own island was being swallowed by the sea.
The island was a heaven and the islanders prospered -- archaeological evidence shows that the island was covered with a variety of various trees, such as the greatest palm tree species on the planet. The natives used the wood and bark for cloth, rope, and canoes. Birds were plentiful and supplied food. The climate was mild and the water supplied a wealth of fish and oysters.
Their religion developed with its centerpiece the giant moai, or heads, which are the island's most distinguishing feature now. The moai, are scattered around the island and supposedly depicted their ancestors. This was probably considered a blessing or a watchful eye over each small village. The ruins of the Rano Raraku crater, the stone quarry where hundreds of moai sit now, show how these characters were important. The birdman civilization (as seen in the petroglyphs) was obviously the islanders' fascination with their capacity to travel to remote lands.
In addition to the statues, petroglyphs (rock carvings), traditional wood carvings, tapa (barkcloth), crafts, tattooing, string figures, dancing and songs, the islanders possessed the Rongorongo script, the only written language in Oceania. As time went on confidence in their faith was lost since arguments broke out.
At its summit the island had more than 10,000 population, straining the capability of it is ecosystem. Because of this lush palm forests were destroyed for agriculture along with the gigantic figurines, and resources became more scarce. The once flourishing advanced social network descended into a bloody civil war, also apparently cannibalism as they ran out of food sources. The islanders tore down the statues, that now have been erected by archaeological attempts.
Through contact with western culture, slavery and disease the island inhabitants by around 1800 had dropped to approximately 110. Approximately 1888 following the annexation of Chile the population rose to over 2,000. Despite the Chilean presence there is still a powerful Polynesian identity.
The Rapanui people are incredibly friendly and the landscape is amazing with its volcanic craters, lava formations, beaches, brilliant blue water, and archaeological sites.
Accessibility is from Chile and Tahiti, tourism around the island is run by the Rapanui themselves. There are many package tours and various resorts and guesthouses around the Island. There are chances to stay in a private home, a great way to have the island and culture.
There are a set of continuing excavations, conservation and preservation projects.All but among the 22 standing statues in Rano Raraku Quarry interior have been subjected through unscientific and undocumented digging.
Even the Easter Island Statue Project (EISP) includes a 20 year history of an archaeological investigation, the objective of which is the invention of a complete, full, island-wide monolithic and portable statue stock and also the compilation of an historic picture record for every.
In 1982 the EISP team started a 5 year Easter Island Statue Project, mapping the interior of Rano Raraku, the volcanic quarry from which 95 percent of those figurines were made. Over viajes a isla de pascua were recorded throughout the Whole island and made the world's largest archaeological record
Rano Raraku, a volcanic crater on the island's eastern plain, was the origin of the sideromelane (basaltic) from which 95% of those statues were carved. This origin is incontrovertible as there are 397 in situ statues, of which 141 in a variety of stages of completion have been implicated by EISP in the inside quarries.
The island is known among the world's most sacred sites, famous for its giant stone busts, built centuries ago, they signify the history of this dramatic rise and collapse of an isolated Polynesian culture.
Locally today it's called Rapa Nui.
There has been much confusion and controversy as to the source of the Easter Islanders. Some believe Peruvians built the statues, some feel that the Island is a slice of a continent that was lost. DNA has proven that Polynesians were the earliest settlers arriving around 400 AD from the west in large boats. This is seen as remarkable given that Easter Island is such a fantastic distance from other property. Legend has it they were searching for additional property as their own island was being swallowed by the sea.
The island was a heaven and the islanders prospered -- archaeological evidence shows that the island was covered with a variety of various trees, such as the greatest palm tree species on the planet. The natives used the wood and bark for cloth, rope, and canoes. Birds were plentiful and supplied food. The climate was mild and the water supplied a wealth of fish and oysters.
Their religion developed with its centerpiece the giant moai, or heads, which are the island's most distinguishing feature now. The moai, are scattered around the island and supposedly depicted their ancestors. This was probably considered a blessing or a watchful eye over each small village. The ruins of the Rano Raraku crater, the stone quarry where hundreds of moai sit now, show how these characters were important. The birdman civilization (as seen in the petroglyphs) was obviously the islanders' fascination with their capacity to travel to remote lands.
In addition to the statues, petroglyphs (rock carvings), traditional wood carvings, tapa (barkcloth), crafts, tattooing, string figures, dancing and songs, the islanders possessed the Rongorongo script, the only written language in Oceania. As time went on confidence in their faith was lost since arguments broke out.
At its summit the island had more than 10,000 population, straining the capability of it is ecosystem. Because of this lush palm forests were destroyed for agriculture along with the gigantic figurines, and resources became more scarce. The once flourishing advanced social network descended into a bloody civil war, also apparently cannibalism as they ran out of food sources. The islanders tore down the statues, that now have been erected by archaeological attempts.
Through contact with western culture, slavery and disease the island inhabitants by around 1800 had dropped to approximately 110. Approximately 1888 following the annexation of Chile the population rose to over 2,000. Despite the Chilean presence there is still a powerful Polynesian identity.
The Rapanui people are incredibly friendly and the landscape is amazing with its volcanic craters, lava formations, beaches, brilliant blue water, and archaeological sites.
Accessibility is from Chile and Tahiti, tourism around the island is run by the Rapanui themselves. There are many package tours and various resorts and guesthouses around the Island. There are chances to stay in a private home, a great way to have the island and culture.
There are a set of continuing excavations, conservation and preservation projects.All but among the 22 standing statues in Rano Raraku Quarry interior have been subjected through unscientific and undocumented digging.
Even the Easter Island Statue Project (EISP) includes a 20 year history of an archaeological investigation, the objective of which is the invention of a complete, full, island-wide monolithic and portable statue stock and also the compilation of an historic picture record for every.
In 1982 the EISP team started a 5 year Easter Island Statue Project, mapping the interior of Rano Raraku, the volcanic quarry from which 95 percent of those figurines were made. Over viajes a isla de pascua were recorded throughout the Whole island and made the world's largest archaeological record
Rano Raraku, a volcanic crater on the island's eastern plain, was the origin of the sideromelane (basaltic) from which 95% of those statues were carved. This origin is incontrovertible as there are 397 in situ statues, of which 141 in a variety of stages of completion have been implicated by EISP in the inside quarries.
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