The Easter Island heads hold a fascinating secret that extends beyond their well-known appearance. Contrary to popular belief, the amusing depiction of two of these famous statues buried with their bodies and arms crossed beneath the surface is not as fictitious as it may seem.
Most of us are familiar with the iconic Easter Island heads captured in photographs and videos. However, what may come as a surprise is that beneath these stone behemoths lie concealed buried artifacts. Take a look at additional captivating snapshots of the enigmatic Easter Island statues showcased below.
Van Tilburg, a researcher at the Cotsen Institute of Archaeology at the University of California, Los Angeles, explains that people often mistake the Easter Island statues as just heads due to the fact that there are approximately 150 statues buried up to their shoulders on the slope of a volcano. These particular statues have gained fame for being the most stunning and widely photographed on the island. As a result, those who are unfamiliar with the other unearthed statues mistakenly assume that they are only heads. However, it was the release of photographs from Tilburg’s 2010 excavations that sparked a surge of interest online regarding the missing bodies of these ancient sculptures.
We were quite surprised to learn about the discovery of the Easter Island bodies, but it turns out that this is not a recent finding. As stated by Live Science, experts have actually been well aware of these bodies ever since they began their archaeological exploration on the island back in 1914, which is situated approximately 2,000 miles west of Chile. The very first photographs of the statues being unearthed were published in May of that same year.
Over time, layers of sediment from mass transportation settled on the island, gradually concealing the lower portion of the statues and covering their heads. As the island naturally aged and underwent erosion, these events led to the statues becoming completely buried up to their heads.
Over the course of 9 years, researchers meticulously documented and analyzed nearly 1,000 statues on a tiny island in the Pacific Ocean. With utmost precision, the team strived to unravel the enigmatic significance, purpose, and captivating tales behind every unique sculpture.
Let me complete this by sharing the process behind the creation of these famous sculptures. Starting with the one depicted below, it was skillfully carved but unfortunately never erected. Imagine its grandeur – towering 72 feet in height and weighing more than two Boeing 737 airplanes. It’s worth noting that even the tallest standing structure today measures only 33 feet in comparison!
