A newly discovered moai statue has been found at the bottom of a dried-up crater lake on Easter Island, also known as Rapa Nui. This is the first time one of the island’s famous giant-headed figures has been found in a lake.
Background
Easter Island, located more than 3500 kilometres from the South American continent, is famous for its more than 900 moai statues. These statues were carved by the Rapa Nui people over 500 years ago from volcanic rock. Most of them were carved at the Rano Raraku volcano, with some left at the site and others transported to different parts of the island.
The Discovery
The new moai statue measures 1.6 metres in height and is described as “full-bodied with recognisable features but no clear definition”. It was found lying face down among tall reeds at the dried-up crater lake. Experts believe that under the current dry conditions, more statues may be discovered.
Importance and Speculations
The monolithic moai statues have always captured the imagination and sparked speculation about their role in the decline of the island’s population in the 17th century. For the indigenous Rapa Nui people, these statues represent their deified ancestors. This discovery is considered very significant for the Rapa Nui community.
Shrinking Lake and Climate Change
The crater lake at Rano Raraku is normally filled with water but has been shrinking since 2018. This shrinking is attributed to a decade of drought on Easter Island, which is partly driven by climate change and the La Niña weather pattern. The current La Niña event is the third in a rare “triple dip” occurrence, which may have connections to human-caused climate change.
