News story – “Where did you get that hat? Secrets of the Easter Island statues”
In an interesting news article published by Britain’s “The Independent”, British experts have discovered what they believe is another insight into Easter Island’s famous and mysterious moai statues. A small number of the moai statues on the island are topped with “hats” made of volcanic red stone. While the meaning of these hats had been unknown, British researchers now believe they represent a “topknot” that was worn by elite chieftains. From the news article:
But while more than 1,000 statues have been found on the island only 70-75 hats have been discovered, suggesting the headgear was an added symbol of power – and perhaps even an early example of Pacific “bling”.
As well as weighing several tons the “hats” are carved from a crater full of red scoria, a volcanic pumice whose colour symbolises high birth and status. They may have been later additions to existing statues to boost them beyond their rivals.
This certainly represents another step to understanding the fascinating Rapa Nui society, as well as the rise and fall of this famous Polynesian island.