Easter Island
Easter Island covers about 64 square miles in the South Pacific Ocean, 2,300miles from Chile. The island is home to nearly 900 giantstone statuesthat date back several centuries.

kstadaura:
Easter Island
Easter Island covers about 64 square miles in the South Pacific Ocean, 2,300miles from Chile. The island is home to nearly 900 giantstone statuesthat date back several centuries.

First Human Inhabitants.

The Rapa Nui are believed to have emigrated to the island around 300-400 A.D. It is held that the first king of Rapa Nui wasHoto-Matua, whose ship landed at Aneka, one of the few sandy beaches on the island's rock-infested coast.

The Statues.

The statues stand at an average height of13 feetand weigh roughly 13 tons.To this day, no one knows why they were constructedor how they were moved around the island.

The Discovery.

The question of how the Rapa Nui moved the statues around became even more puzzling after scientists decided to do some digging. Literally.

The Underground
Hidden from view, the heads are actually attached to bodies that extend several feet below the ground.

Writing on the Wall

Found on the bodies of thestatues were indecipherable writings known as petroglyphs.

Somewhere Over the Rainbow.

A few of the unearthed statues feature the same petroglyphs, referred to by researchers as the "ring and girdle" design. It is believed to represent the sun and rainbow.

Standing Tall

The tallest statue stands at nearly 33 feet and weighs approximately 82 tons. Another statue, found lying down, was measured at 71.93 feet in length.

Name That Tuna

Tuna vertebrae was even found near the bottom of an excavation, backing the claim that the original carvers were rewarded for their work in meals of tuna and lobster.

Below the Surface

They may not have bodies like this artist rendering, but knowing that they're more than just a bunch of heads is truly awe-inspiring.