Somewhere On The Pacific
Somewhere On The Pacific
You probably stay in your city, you visit family or else you go to a civilized place. However, about 210 years ago a Dutch seaman couldnt stay at home and sailed on the Pacific Ocean during Easter. Voyage possibly went once better, once worse. And then suddenly somebody screamed: Land on the horizon! Quick glimpse on the map, nothing is marked there. The New Island was called Easter Island in memory of the day of reaching its coast.
Many people have heard about that extremely mysterious island. Often, however, their knowledge ends at that point and even indicating its rough location can be a problem. Whereas history of Rapa Nui (because that is what, beside the Spanish name of Isla de Pascua, the island is named by indigenous ones) is unusual and unexplained. About 600 stone statues called moai are not the only case cloaked in mystery. Its possible to reach the island by plane which touches down there only 2-3 times a week. Its the most isolated inhabited land on Earth. Just after landing we are taken aback by the first of the curiosities. The airport, though it seems to be forgotten by the world, is an emergency landing field for American spaceships. Nearby, the islands capital Hanga Roa is situated the biggest and the only city on Rapa Nui at the same time. Its time for a closer outlook on the isle. With solving at least part of the riddles tries to help us a Spanish speaking driver and guide in one, who carries us in a jeep to the most interesting places. Meanwhile he spins yarns, its hard to tell where the true story based on any facts ends and in which moment the legend takes over. Otra teora (Spanish for another theory) or otra posibilidad (Spanish for another possibility) are maybe the most common of the words used by our guide. They are understandable even for those who have to do with Spanish for the first time. Yeah, but how to describe it in a different way since archeologists who have spent several years on the island arent able to nail down one shared version of events, their separate theories often contradict each other. According to one of them, the island was inhabited by clan of Long Eared and Short Eared people one day. Supposedly long eared took over and the second ones must have worked for them, curving from volcanic rock monuments weighing a dozen or so tons, among other things. What did they depict? Gods, ancestors, rulers These are propositions of the scientists. In the area of Rana Raraku volcano we find many moai abandoned on different states of tooling. On that basis, efforts to reconstruct ways of their production were made. It turns out that at the very beginning they sculpted figures face and belly and then it was pulled down the slope a bit and stood up to take care of its back. Thats it. But how to transport tons-weighing stone statues to the other part of the island without machines? - since there are also platforms with standing moai there. On wooden pales, on a sledge, by land or by sea? Even the theory that its the work of extraterrestrials is passed by. Too easy would be the presence of only one possibility.
Set by the oceans coast, statues measuring several metres impressed yet at the first sight. In their presence even the tallest can feel small. In some places, sculptures are looking towards the heart of the island, others on the other hand are staring at boundless blue of the Pacifics waters. We can stumble across them on the entire island, in different sizes and dissimilar states, standing and collapsed, with hats and without them. Rapa Nui abounds in other interesting places as well. Its worth visiting Rano Kau crater and Orongo village connected with Birdman cult which was performed on the island till 1862. Annual inter-tribal race took place. Chosen warriors ran down the steep escarpment and swam to the 300 metres distant tiny rocky isle where they were waiting for terns to come and lay eggs. Competitor who will first return with undamaged egg, gained the title of Birdman and his chief ruled the island for the next year. In the village we found houses in shape of boats turned upside down and numerous rocks covered with petroglyphs. Its not possible to drive past Te Pito o Te Henua, which means the navel of the world. Formerly this name was to relate to the whole island. According to inhabitants beliefs this place makes indeed the centre of Earth and allegedly has magical forces. Excavations on the Easter Island are still held, the Polish group of scientists is also performing there among others. Who knows, maybe some more riddles will be solved? Or maybe further works will lead to increasing of consecutive theories and Rapa Nui will gain even more mysteriousness?
Photos: Rano Raraku quarry the place of moai production. Walking on moai statues is obviously forbidden! Giants from Tangarika beach are glancing at islands heart. Orongo village traces of Birdman cult impressed on the rocks. Te Pito o Te Henua that is the navel of the world.