Post #77561 by christiki295 on Mon, Feb 23, 2004 11:00 PM

On 2004-02-17 23:24, bigbrotiki wrote:
As to the first Tiki, it all comes down to Polynesian migration theories.
I believe the one that says that the Marquesas were settled first from Asia, and the Polynesians fanned out from there . . .
The oldest sacred sites were found in the Austral Islands, (part of Tahiti), like Raivivae.

I think you have, in fact, settled the age old question.

Polynesian migration was eastward from the South China area, through Melanesia to the Austral and Cook Islands and then northward to the Society Islands and the Marquesas, (and presumably Hawaii) according to the research in Rob Kay's Hidden Tahiti.

The earliest documented Tahiti settlement is dated at c. 850 AD.

As you stated, the first tikis seem originated on Raivavae, one of the Austral Islands. They are at the Gauguin museum, but the only websites show photos of a glorious tiki garden, but alas no photos of the tikis inside.

These tikis are described as similar to the Easter Island moai, lending credence that the Raivave tiki predate the 1000-1100 AD Easter Island moai.

According to the petroglyphs, tiki were prevelant in society at the time. The appear in petroglyphs with faces with big rounded eyes, the represnetation of the gods or To'o.

Tikis were the medium through which gods or spirits interacted with the mortals or, according to Douglass Naso, the deification of the elders.

However, Douglas Nason at Barracuda.com/tikis-marquesas/ state that the Marquesas are the primordial home of tikis.

Tahitiguide.com/marea and tikis/ also states that among the first stone tikis originated in the Marquesas c. 1400 AD (post dating Easter Island. It also confirms tikis were endowed with magical power.

Has anyone been to the Gauguin museum (or know the site of their collection)?

[ Edited by: christiki295 on 2004-02-23 23:16 ]