Moai are monolithic human figures carved by the Rapa Nui people from rock on the Chilean Polynesian Island of Easter Island between the years 1250 and 1500

The over-large heads have heavy brows

Deep eye slits

The ears are elongated and oblong in form.

Elongated noses

A distinctive fish-hook-shaped curl of the nostrils.

The lips protrude in a thin pout

The jaw lines stand out against the truncated neck

The Maoi are whole body statues but known as ‘The Easter Island Heads’ for two reasons; the disproportionate size of the heads and the fact that many have been buried from the shoulders down.

The torsos are heavy

Sometimes the clavicles are subtly outlined in stone

The arms are carved in bas relief and rest against the body in various positions

Hands and long slender fingers resting along the crest of the hips

The thumbs sometimes pointing towards the navel

Except for one kneeling Maoi the statues do not have clearly visible legs

The statues were carved by Polynesian colonizers of the Island between 1250 and 1500

The statues represented deceased ancestors

While many statues have individual petroglyphs, the most recently excavated Moai have multiple petroglyphs carved as a composition on their backs. Underlying these carvings is a complex symbol found on less than 100 statues. It is referred to by previous researchers as the "ring and girdle" design, and sometimes said to represent the sun and rainbow.

Petroglyph Symbols

This is the 'Hoa-haka-nanaiai' statue, and it is extremely famous for the quality of the carvings on its back.

There is a very obvious birdman carved on the back of its head, and two further bird men on the shoulders of this Moai, as well as two paddles on the sides of the head.

It is hard to be sure whether these paddles are oars used for rowing boats with, or clubs used for fighting.

ATUA

VAKA

ROOU

This statue was originally created with an ensemble of three symbols which can be read as (he) ROOU VAKA (e) ATUA: ‘The Lord steers the canoe’

‘to take care of the family’

‘to protect the head’

One of the most famous motifs on Easter Island is that of the Birdman, half man and half bird.

The open-mouthed Shark sign