Ahu Nau Nau, Rapa Nui

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The island of Rapa Nui, also known as Easter Island, is believed to have been first settled by Polynesian voyagers in the 1200s. Located 3,500 kilometers (2,100 miles) from mainland South America, these early settlers carved giant stone statues called moai to represent individuals. What are the moai? These towering statues erected on ahu or platforms are the ultimate symbol of Rapa Nui. During cultural development, Polynesian colonizers built these platforms both in coastal and interior areas. An ahu is a sacred space because it primarily houses the remains of Rapanui ancestors inside. On top of these stand the moai, anthropomorphic figures carved in various shapes and sizes representing a member from each family located at every ahu. Approximately one thousand moai have been recorded on the island, along with over three hundred ceremonial platforms, most situated along coastlines and interior regions.