Moai statues of Easter Island:

• Myth buster: The Moai aren’t just heads – they have full bodies buried underground.
• The average height of a Moai is about 13 feet, but some can reach up to 33 feet.
• There are nearly 1,000 Moai statues on Easter Island.
• The statues were carved between 1250 and 1500 AD.
• They are believed to represent ancestral chiefs or other important individuals.
• The largest Moai ever transported weighs 82 tons.
• Many Moai wear “pukao” – large cylindrical stones on their heads, thought to represent topknots or hats.
• The statues were carved from compressed volcanic ash found at a quarry called Rano Raraku.
• Some Moai have coral and obsidian eyes inlaid.
• The method of transporting these massive statues remains a subject of debate among archaeologists.
• Many Moai face inland, watching over the villages, rather than out to sea.
• The fall of the Moai (many were found toppled) is thought to be linked to civil war or environmental disaster on the island.
• Recent research suggests the statues may have been placed to mark the location of fresh water sources.