An unidentified moai statue was found buried at the bottom of a dry lake on Rapa Nui, also known as Easter Island. The team of scientists that discovered the stone head believes there could be more at the bottom of the lake, waiting to be uncovered.
Photos from open sources
According to team leader Mau Henua, who oversees the Rapa Nui National Park, the statue was discovered this week. The sculpture is made from hardened volcanic ash.
“For the people of Rapa Nui, this is a very, very important discovery,” Ma’u Henua Vice President Salvador Atan Hito said in an interview with Good Morning America. “Because he is here in the lake, and no one knows that he exists – even our ancestors, our grandparents do not know [об этом]”.
Photos from open sources
The idols were transported across the island from their place of construction by an unknown means. According to the islanders, the statues “walked” or were “endowed with the ability to walk in the dark.” Although it sounds absurd, there is an unusual theory in a 2013 article that the statues did indeed walk around the island and were installed.
It is not known why this particular moai statue was placed at the bottom of the lake, but the discovery may mean it may not be the last statue found.
Photos from open sources
“In the current dry conditions, we can find more,” archeology professor Terry Hunt of the University of Arizona said in an interview with Good Morning America.
“They were hidden by tall reeds that grow at the bottom of the lake. The study can reveal what is below the surface of the earth and tell us that there are actually more moai figures in the sediments of the lake bed.”
