Moai

Moai are large stone statues created by the Rapa Nui people of Easter Island between the 13th and 16th centuries. Carved from volcanic tuff, these statues typically depict elongated human figures with prominent facial features. They were constructed to honor ancestors and were often placed on stone platforms called ahu, serving as spiritual and ceremonial symbols. The Moai are renowned for their impressive size—some weighing over 80 tons—and for the advanced craftsmanship required to carve and move them. They reflect the islanders’ social organization, religious beliefs, and engineering ingenuity.