one of the oldest and smallest moais was destined to be shipped to Europe but that plan did not materialize
we pass a few pukao
the large platform is almost 20 meters wide
one of the toppled moais, face down
this cave gave shelter to the poor souls that were not allowed to sleep in the houseboats
here you can buy lasting memories of the King's Platform
the unfinished moai has an unusual longitudinal rupture
Akahanga has not (yet) been restored so it should not have changed much over the last 2.5 centuries.
It's
nickname is King's Platform, referring to a story that the first king
Hotu Matu'a was kicked out of by his wife and spent his
final days here instead of at the cozy beach of
Anakena.
There is one large platform on which once a dozen moais proudly
stood. Now they lay scattered around, some face down, the newer and bigger ones rest on their back.
Another smaller platform
with an unfinished moai may not have been ready when the tides turned and the statue topplers moved in.
The Akahanga site further
features remains of several houseboats, a cave that gave shelter to the lower caste, cooking ovens and even a canoe ramp.
Excavations
have revealed that the area behind the platform at one time was used for cremations.
the rugged coastline at Akahanga
our guide points out the remains of a cooking oven
the smaller platform with its huge toppled moai
a nose-down moai, notice they used red slabs for the platform
at least he still has his pukao nearby
