Post #83385 by christiki295 on Mon, Mar 29, 2004 12:34 AM

The first moai, according to Dr. Van Tilburg, are located on Anakena Bay, the landing site of the tiki godfather, Hotu Motu'a, which became a sared religious site.

The site is Ahu Nau Nau, an oft-photographed site which has a total of 7 moai, 4 of which have the red scoria topknots/headdress (pukao). They also have the intricate fish hook pattern carved on the backs.

The date is referenced as c. 1,000 AD, during the initial, "classical" period.

These Rapa Nui were the first of the voyagers from the Marquesas and, according to Tilburg's Easter Island, probably sailed c. 300 AD south via the Australs and stopping on the islands Rapa and Mangareva, located between the Australs and Easter Island. They also mave have stopped on the shores of South America, where they introduced the sweet potato.

This site was restored under the direction of Sergio Rapu, a Rapa Nui archaeologist.

One technicality, this was not the "first" tiki site, but rather the first which remains because the initial site was smaller and lower and featured a natural looking statue which Hotu Motu'a brought from one of the giant double-hulled canoes.

[ Edited by: christiki295 on 2004-03-29 00:42 ]