CARVED IN STONE

Created by man, built for eternity

Stonehenge, the Sphinx, the moais of Easter Island – what drives mankind’s fascination for such monuments to eternity?

Rapa Nui, better known as Easter Island, is home to the moais (pictured). Around 900 of the colossal monolithic statues can be found dotted around this island in the South Pacific. Nobody is really sure what they represent. Some researchers believe that they formed part of a cult of the dead and depict former chieftains or deified ancestors. Another mystery surrounding the figures – most of which are made from tuff (compressed volcanic ash) and can stand up to ten metres high and weigh more than 80 tonnes – is how they were transported to their final locations. Only the island’s inhabitants are certain of the answer to this puzzle. According to them, the moais walked there!