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Easter Island, Polynesia

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2015

Henri Lavachery
Henri Lavachery*
Affiliation:
Royal Museums of Art and History, Brussels
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Extract

Few places in the world have given rise to more fantastic speculation than this volcanic island, 70 square miles in area, lying in the Pacific Ocean, lat. 27° 10′ s., long. 109° 20′ w. Actually the so-called ‘mysteries of Easter Island’, or rather the explanations which have been offered, are not the work of trained men of science. It is natural that the huge statues, standing erect as they do in a naked landscape against a background of black and yellow, should have appealed to the poetical imagination. But those who wish to face with candour the problems presented by certain parts of the world may well be annoyed when the poets’ lyrical love of mystery becomes the starting-point of speculation. The best students of Easter Island have always told us that it was Polynesian and could only be explained by Polynesia. The evidence that we have now obtained is merely an addition to what was already a formidable pile. Nevertheless we expect that before long others will come forward again with tales of a lost continent of Lemuria, submerged beneath the waters of the Pacific; and that Easter Island is one of its peaks, peopled with Lemurian idols!

Type
Research Article
Information
Antiquity , Volume 10 , Issue 37 , March 1936 , pp. 54 - 60
Copyright
Copyright © Antiquity Publications Ltd 1936

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References

1 MrsRoutledge, Scoresby Mystery of Easter Island, 1919 Google Scholar

2 We may well adopt the English equivalent to avoid the clumsy ‘Easter Islanders ’. Translator

3 A paymaster of the American navy, and the author of a short archaeological account which, considering that it was based merely upon a visit of eight days, is remarkably informative and full.

4 This will shortly be published, through the agency of my Swiss colleague Alfred Métraux, by the Bishop Museum, Honolulu

5 An islet and village situated to the west of Easter Island

6 A volcano in the eastern part of Easter Island. On its slopes is the quarry where the statues were hewn.

7 Unfortunately, however, the mystery-mongers are not as a rule open to reason. Mystery is their religion.—Translator.

8 Tangata Manu—bird man. He was the first to get possession of the first egg laid by the bird Manutara ibreast) in the island of Motunui (spring equinox).