All but 53 of the more than 900 moai known to date were carved from tuff (a compressed volcanic ash) from Rano Raraku, where 394 moai in varying states of completion are still visible today.

Nov 29, 2025 · Easter Island, or Rapa Nui, is home to the famous Moai towering stone statues carved by the island’s early inhabitants. Their origins and purpose continue to inspire wonder.

Mar 6, 2024 · The moai are massive stone statues of human figures carved by the Rapa Nui people on Easter Island. Over 1,000 Moai have been discovered, and the Rapa Nui National …

Sep 26, 2025 · The moai of Easter Island are more than statues; they are guardians of memory. They remind us of a people who carved identity into stone, who honored their ancestors with …

Moai statues were built to honor chieftain or other important people who had passed away. They were placed on rectangular stone platforms called ahu, which are tombs for the people that the …

What are the moai—and who built them? At latest count on the island, there are 1,043 complete moai, enormous statues with prominent heads made from volcanic stone.

The moai were probably carved to commemorate important ancestors and were made from around 1000 C.E. until the second half of the seventeenth century. Over a few hundred years …

Nov 30, 2025 · A high-resolution 3D model of Rano Raraku shows that the moai were created in many distinct carving zones. Instead of a top-down system, the statues appear to have been …

Aug 20, 2025 · The Moai, created by the Rapa Nui people between 1400 and 1650 AD, reflect an advanced societal structure and deep spiritual beliefs. Despite the passage of centuries, their …

Nov 26, 2025 · The road moai proved distinct, characterized by wider bases, D-shaped cross sections and a forward lean of 5-15 degrees. These features wouldn’t be necessary if the moai …