Whats Carved on the Back of the Easter Island Moai Statues

We’ve all seen the incredible Moai statues, created to honour the ancestors of Easter Island, known locally as Rapa Nui, between 1000 and 1650 AD. Something not everybody knows though, is that the backs of some of the statues are also intricately carved. These are not original features though. In the history of Easter Island, there was a transition in religion and ritual practices, from Ancestor worship and the creation of Moai statues, to the creation of carvings of the birdman cult. Symbols include the vulva, Rapa Nui ritual dance paddles, two birds – male and female, an egg and a hatched fledgling bird. The birdman was the emblem of the warrior class and the rise of the birdman and the end of Moai statue making, may indicate a transference of power amongst the people on the island. Learn more about the history of Rapa Nui in a longer video on the Ancient Architects channel. Click here: #ancientarchitects #easterisland #rapanui