The statue was a gift from the people of Nii-jima (an island 163 kilometres (101 mi) from Tokyo but administratively part of the city) inspired by Easter Island moai. The name of the statue was derived by combining "moai" and the dialectal Japanese word moyai (催合い) 'helping each other'.

Jan 11, 2019 · Researchers have long puzzled over why the huge Easter Island statues were placed where they are. However, a new study says the people of Rapa Nui, as the island is called in the local...

The mysterious moai statues at Easter Island are ancient remnants of a great past. Why were they built? Read on to find out!

Mar 6, 2024 · The moai are massive stone statues of human figures carved by the Rapa Nui people on Easter Island. Over 1,000 Moai have been discovered, and the Rapa Nui National Park, which includes the moai, was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1995.

Jan 13, 2023 · What are the Easter Island statues called and how old are the Easter Island statues? The Easter Island head statues of Rapa Nui are known as the Moai statues and they were sculpted sometime between the years 1250 and 1500.

Feb 19, 2025 · Easter Island’s monolithic Moai statues are among the most recognizable ancient wonders on earth. Although many questions about these gigantic stone sculptures remain, years of scientific research has uncovered some fascinating insights into …

Oct 19, 2022 · Easter Island’s iconic statues remain at risk after devastating fire. Recent blazes chewed through the heritage site, causing “irreparable” damage to hundreds of Rapa Nui’s sacred moai.

Mar 20, 2025 · The island is famous for its gigantic stone statues, of which there are more than 600, and for the ruins of giant stone platforms (ahus) with open courtyards on their landward sides, some of which show masterly construction. Archaeological surveys were carried out in 1886, 1914, and 1934; archaeological excavations were initiated in 1955.

Nov 9, 2009 · Easter Island, located about 2,300 miles off Chile in the South Pacific Ocean, is known for its nearly 900 giant stone statues that date back several centuries.

Jun 21, 2024 · Rapa Nui, also known as Easter Island (a name given to it by Europeans), is located in the southeast Pacific and is famous for its approximately 1,000 carvings of moai, human-faced statues.