For most, the secrets and enigmatic themes of Easter Island are associated with idols, their making, moving and installing. But few people pay attention to details, such as the fact that these moai are deeply buried in clay soil.
It turns out that there were several excavation expeditions on the island. The first were conducted by Thor Heerdahl. During the excavations, it turned out that the idols are up to 7 m high.
There are over 800 idols on the island. And they all have a lower part buried deep in the ground.
It can be seen that the idol has a drawing below the ground level. Above - it was "eaten" by erosion. But why was it necessary to make this ornament and bury it? Or man has nothing to do with it? Let's figure it out …
Historians claim that the idols were moved in a horizontal position, rolling on logs. All trees on the island were transferred to logs. There is such an experience showing that a small idol can be easily moved with the help of ropes and synchronous swinging:
Promotional video:
But the growth of this moai is very small compared to those that are buried.
I do not think that those who cut down these statues would bury them in the ground. They could sink only in the case of wetlands. But then the question arises with their movement over swampy ground.
The downpours may have gradually washed away the clay from the slopes of the island. But where, then, is there so much clay? Clay is a product of erosion. The area of Easter Island is very tiny. All from erosion, water washes into the ocean. The photo below shows traces of this process:
Before and after excavations.
Photo from the expedition of T. Heerdahl.
Buried idols are visible on the slope of the volcano.
There are a number of volcanoes on the island.
An unfinished idol on the side of a volcano. It means that this process was not allowed to end. What kind of event?
Exhibits from the local museum. Before you can cut down the idols, you need to make these tools. Why polish them like that if it's a consumable !?
4 february
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Easter Island idols buried in clay
For most, the secrets and enigmatic themes of Easter Island are associated with idols, their making, moving and installing. But few people pay attention to details, such as the fact that these moai are deeply buried in clay soil.
it turns out that there were several expeditions with excavations on the island. The first were conducted by Thor Heerdahl. During the excavations, it turned out that the idols have a height of up to 7, it turns out that there were several expeditions with excavations on the island. The first were conducted by Thor Heerdahl. During the excavations, it turned out that the idols are up to 7m high
it turns out that there were several expeditions with excavations on the island. The first were conducted by Thor Heerdahl. During the excavations, it turned out that the idols are up to 7m high
There are over 800 idols on the island. And they all have a lower part buried deep in the ground.
It can be seen that the idol has a drawing below the ground level. Above - it was "eaten" by erosion. But why was it necessary to make this ornament and bury it? Or man has nothing to do with it? Let's figure it out … It can be seen that the idol has a drawing below the ground level. Above - it was "eaten" by erosion. But why was it necessary to make this ornament and bury it? Or man has nothing to do with it? Let's figure it out …
It can be seen that the idol has a drawing below the ground level. Above - it was "eaten" by erosion. But why was it necessary to make this ornament and bury it? Or man has nothing to do with it? Let's figure it out …
Historians claim that the idols were moved in a horizontal position, rolling on logs. All trees on the island were transferred to logs. There is such an experience showing that a small idol can be easily moved with the help of ropes and synchronous swinging:
But the growth of this moai is very small compared to those that are buried.
I do not think that those who cut down these statues would bury them in the ground. They could sink only in the case of wetlands. But then the question arises with their movement over swampy ground.
The downpours may have gradually washed away the clay from the slopes of the island. But where, then, is there so much clay? Clay is a product of erosion. The area of Easter Island is very tiny. All from erosion, water washes into the ocean. The photo below shows traces of this process:
Before and after excavation Before and after excavation
Before and after excavation
Photo from the time of T. Heerdahl's expedition. Photo from the time of T. Heerdahl's expedition.
Photo from the time of T. Heerdahl's expedition.
Buried idols are visible on the slope of the volcano
Buried idols are visible on the slope of the volcano
On the sharp there are a number of volcanoes On the sharp there are a number of volcanoes
There are a number of volcanoes on the sharp
An unfinished idol on the side of a volcano. It means that this process was not allowed to end. What kind of event? An unfinished idol on the side of a volcano. It means that this process was not allowed to end. What kind of event?
An unfinished idol on the side of a volcano. It means that this process was not allowed to end. What kind of event?
Exhibits from the local museum. Before you can cut down the idols, you need to make these tools. Why polish them like that if it's a consumable !? Exhibits from the local museum. Before you can cut down the idols, you need to make these tools. Why polish them like that if it's a consumable !?
Exhibits from the local museum. Before you can cut down the idols, you need to make these tools. Why polish them like that if it's a consumable !?
The question is: where does so much clay come from on the island. I think this clay is from the volcanoes themselves. Imagine they all erupt, something like this:
Often, a volcanic eruption is just the release of a huge amount of ash. No magma outpouring.
This ash settles on the surface and the following picture is obtained:
The aftermath of the eruption of the Eldfell volcano in Iceland in 1973.
Only the color of volcanic ash is gray. Clays are red, red, yellow. Maybe it changes color over time? The compounds in it are oxidized, rains lead to shrinkage and compaction, etc. I think there is confirmation of this. See what happens by color to the rock used to make cement:
Open pit of the Krasnoyarsk cement plant. Due to iron oxides in the rock, it has a reddish color.
Cement everyone knows how it looks. Isn't it volcanic ash after the eruption? The rocks underwent high-temperature treatment before becoming cement and ash. Cement is in the rotating drum of the plant. Ashes are in the mouth of the volcano.
This photo is not from South America. It's all in the same place - on Easter Island. Megalithic masonry. And it could have been poured from cement, or rather from the ash of volcanoes (as a binder) for this concrete mass of blocks.