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Easter Island: Early Witnesses

William Thomson


510

Thirteen colossal images that once ornamented this remarkable structure have been thrown down and more or less damaged. Their red tufa crowns, also considerably broken, lie near at hand. On the inland facing-wall there is a ground tier of gray volcanic stone finely dressed, and on this is a tier of tufa stones 4½ feet long, 2½ feet high, and 8 inches thick each, and these are covered with hieroglyphics. This is known as the King's platform, and is regarded as one of the most important on the island, on account of the finished work on the structure as well as the numerous sculptures (Fig. 19). The tradition

660x259 GIF, 11k

FIG. 19.
SCULPTURED ROCK: KING'S PLATFORM.

asserts that this was the burial place of Hotu-Matua, the first king, and a long line of his descendants. Our excavations in the vicinity produced nothing of interest beyond a few ancient skulls with lower jaws of extraordinary size and width. From the foundation of image-builders' houses we obtained fine stone implements and carving tools.
   Platform No.81.-Called "Harerora". Small and unimportant. One image, much broken.
   Platform No. 82.-Called "Motuopope". Central section 252 feet long, 10 feet wide, and 7 feet high. Extreme length, 375 feet. Six images in rather bad condition. This structure is important from the fact that the statues have short ears, the only ones of the kind we found on the island. The sketches will show that on all the platforms, as well the images in the workshops as those left in an unfinished state were all carved with long ears. Why there was an exception made to the general rule in the images that adorned this structure, could not he determined.
   Platform No. 83.-Called "Anaonero". Consisting of foundation stones only, showing that the work was abandoned shortly after being commenced.
   Platform No.84.-Called "Huareva". A mere mass of ruins.
   Platform No. 85.-Called "Hoekoe". Has been completely demolished and shows fragments of two large images.
   Platform No. 86.-Called "Pakaea". Central section 45 feet long, 8 feet wide, and 7 feet high, with wings extending 250 feet on either side. One image, in a bad condition.

510


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