Easter Island Wrapup and Contents

/ Murray Foote

It’s now been over two months since I returned from Patagonia, Antarctica, the Falklands, Iguazu Falls and Easter Island.  Most of that time I have been writing up Easter Island, which I have now finished.  Having got home I have been processing all images and therefore posting more of them.

Easter Island especially demands explanations to go with the images and I have given quite detailed accounts of many aspects of the history and archaeology of Easter Island.  There have been 24 posts, 150 images and lots of words.

It started out just about photography.  It’s become somewhat more than that, though the images remain central.

Anakena

One thing I discovered, not in other accounts, was that Easter Island had a two-stage crisis.  First was an ecological crisis that lead to starvation and warfare.  Second and only after European contact, the overthrow of the old religion and the downing of the moai.

I finished up by considering whether the history of Easter Island offers a parable for our times.  I hope many people read this because I believe we all need to understand these issues to help build a consensus for positive change.

Ahu Hanga Kio’e

Below is a list of my special topics.  These are folded into the posts which have quite different names, specific to locations, that may not reflect the content of the special topics.  Further below I also present a list of the titles of the posts and then the sources of my research.

Special Topics

Ahu Te Peu

Posts

Note that posts are not necessarily chonological because they are also combined by content.

Easter Island map – click for larger size (so you can read the place names)

You need to click on the map to get it twice as large so you can read the place names.  The maps covers 16 of the 25 place names in the titles of posts.  Of those not covered:

  • Puna Pau is shown as Maunga Vai Ohao,
  • the South Coast is the whole south-east coast,
  • Ahu Vai Teka is just to the West of Ahu Akivi,
  • Ana Kakenga is just near Motu Tautara (which you can see from the cave),
  • Ahu Hange Kio’e is near Punta Cook,
  • Hanga Taharoa is the bay near Mahatua,
  • Hanga Piko is just below the big point at Hanga Roa,
  • Ana Te Pahu is about halfway between Ahu  Akivi and Ahu Te Peu on the South side of the road
  • and Ahu Runga Vae’e is just below Ahu Hanga Te Tenga.

Ahu Tongariki

Bibliography

My discourse on Easter Island reflects what I’ve read, my observations and my analysis. I don’t claim to be a scientist or an archaeologist.  Apart from being a photographer, I am an economic historian (in terms of academic qualifications) who found a career as a systems developer (and I’m now retired).  Here is a list of the books and articles I used:

Easter Island

– Books

– On the Web

Ahu Hanga Poukura

Ecology

– Books

  • Tim Flannery:  Here on Earth(An Argument for Hope) 2010
    • Confusingly, there seem to be several books with very similar titles.  I suspect that this is publishers’ demand for different markets.  Since this is the Australian version, it is probably the book Flannery intended to write.
  • Tim Flannery:  The Weather Makers (2005)
  • Tim Flannery:  The Future Eaters (1994)
  • Tim Flannery:  The Eternal Frontier (2001)

– On the Web

Ranu Raraku

31 thoughts on “Easter Island Wrapup and Contents”

    • Pas de tout! Merci!

      I notice you say in your blog that you have been reading up on Easter Island. I’m currently reading a book that does not appear in the lists above. It is “The Mystery of Easter Island” (1919) by Katherine Routledge, who spent eighteen months on the island in 1914-15 when she was still able to interview Rapanui who had grown up in the classical culture. It is recently back in print.

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  4. I totally agree with this analysis. We have multiple problems in the modern world but overpopulation and the consequent destruction of resources overshadows the whole future of mankind. Murray, if you were the first person to propose this parallel in microcosm I take my metaphorical akubra off to you:).

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  7. Hello Murray! How are you doing? I got some questions for you… can I? I would like your opinion about which islands to absolutely visit in Polynésie françaises. I have an aunt (a nun living in a monastery) in Panaauina, near Papeete, where I will stay for 4-5 nights. I also want to visit Moorea Island and Huahine Island, as I told to my aunt. She get back to me with an offer of one of her relative in Moorea. She offers me accomodation and to show me all the secrets of Moorea and she says after visiting Moorea that way, no need to visit the others islands, I will know everything about Polynesia…

    I haven’t read all your articles yet, but I would like your opinion about her point of view.

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  8. Hello Louise! I’m going well.

    Your aunt could well be right. After all I only spent one day in Tahiti and one in Moorea. Your priorities may well be different from mine so you may make different choices. Since you ask, though, this is what my attitude would be:

    I’m sure she will provide a wonderful time for you in Tahiti and Moorea. That leaves consideration of the Leeward Islands. The Leeward Islands in historical times were quite different from Tahiti and Moorea. They were more fragile and much more susceptible to environmental degradation and population pressures. Consequently, Tahiti and Moorea were sometimes invaded from islands in the Leeward Group. The political and cultural centre was not Tahiti but Raiatea.

    Particularly since you’re going to Huahine, I would be inclined to also visit Raiatea and Bora Bora, which are fairly close by. Marae Taputapuatea on Raiatea has to be worth visiting. Everything is expensive but it’s much better if you’re not rushed. I would suspect that the Leeward Islands, smaller and more remote, would be less tourist-centred or at least more Polynesian and laid back. I would be interested to get to know the Polynesian locals if possible and talk to them about their lifestyle, history, culture and politics. So it would be good to get away from the tourist hotels at least some of the time and stay in a local village. If you have the time, I think at least a full day on each island would be good so you can see the sunrise and sunset.

    I can’t pretend to be very knowledgable on this, though. You may well find someone else with different and more detailed advice.

    I’ll be interested to hear on how your trip goes.

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  9. Thanks Murray! You’re are very kind. Susbscribe to my blog and I promise you to write few words in English just for you when I’ll be at Easter Island! By the way, do you authorize me to use your island map? It’s the best I’ve seen so far.

    Warm regards,
    Louise

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  15. Thanks for including a map… it is always so infuriating when reading about something and not being able to see how different places connect or relate. Thanks too for the book list and other links… I think I’m going to be busy!

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      • I’m really fascinated in this now, Murray, you have awakened my dormant interest and I’m looking forward to reading your posts and looking at your photos then following up your links and book list.

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