Message:

<p>[QUOTE=&quot;Any Jewelry, post: 294475, member: 2844&quot;]The Moai Kavakava are representations of people commonly called &#039;Longears&#039;, the former elite of the island who had long ears, extended earlobes with heavy plaques or pendants. The workers wore no ear jewellery, they were the &#039;Shortears&#039;.</p><p>Longear during the first European (Dutch) expedition of 1722:</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]95613[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p>During the heyday of Easter Island culture more and more of the giant stone statues were carved. And more of the small wooden statues, which were probably linked to the &#039;birdman&#039; ceremony.</p><p>During the &#039;birdman&#039; ceremony, representatives of the Longear elite jumped off a cliff and swam to a nearby small island inhabited by birds, in a sacred competition to retrieve the first egg of the year. The man whose swimmer came back with the first egg was birdman for a year, an important ceremonial title.</p><p><br /></p><p>Most of what is known about early Easter Island customs comes from the descriptions of 18th century European visitors. During the 18th and 19th centuries there were many wars between the elite and the workers. The giant statues were toppled and the few remaining Longears were massacred. The old ceremonies of the Longears were no longer performed, or performed without knowing the proper background. Most of the symbolism was forgotten.</p><p>What followed was a period of disease, mostly through European and American contact, famine, and slave raids from Chile, the nearest country. Only 36 people survived this period, and Easter Island is now part of Chile.</p><p><br /></p><p>When tourism started, the islanders made &#039;copies&#039; of the old wooden Longear figures as souvenirs. If Kard&#039;s figurine is anything to go by, even that went downhill since I bought mine in the early 70s.</p><p>They are also trying to revive old customs.</p><p>By the way, all of the souvenir statues are made in Chile, because Easter Island is part of Chile. It is a source of income for many families on an island that has little besides tourism.</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]95614[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p>Both pictures are from the book &#039;Île de Pâques&#039; by Bob Putigny[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

Your name or email address:

Do you already have an account?

• No, create an account now.
• Yes, my password is:
• Forgot your password?

Stay logged in