| Actual Image
Topknots of Rapa Nui (18)
CAROL50
![Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 474 W: 57 N: 1103]](http://i1.treklens.com/misc/g-g-g.gif) (4733) | A second posting of the great statues of Rapa Nui ( Easter Island ), this site is called Ahu Ature Huki and is located , as most erected 'Moai'( statues ) are , near the sea on the northeast coast of the island. Please take a few moments to visit Wikipedia for a good overview of this isolated and mysterious island .You 'll be glad you did !I wish to put the emphasis on the'hats' or 'topknots' these giants wear on top of their large heads here , where'as in my first post only one of the 15 Moai standing there has a topknot on.In the past archaelogists thought the reddish cylindrical topknots on many moai were hats , crowns but the general consensus now is that these reflect a male hairstyle common on Rapa Hui when the Europeans first visited the island , the volcanic scoria from which these topknots are made is relatively soft and easily worked .Carved like the moai the topknots may have been simple embellishments which were 'rolled ' yes to their final destination and then despite their enormous weight were placed on top of the statues up to 10 m tall.Amazing ! Early Europeans recorded that moai were still standing with their topknots mounted .
An old scanned print ,i have a B&W version of this complete with frame i will add in a WS if you want to take a look , i have posted the color one instead so you can see the reddish-coloured hats versus the blackish rest of the bodies.
Thank you for looking,
Carol |
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