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Photo.Keely | all galleries >> Special Projects >> Fauna + Flora >> Birds > Orongo Petroglyphs, Motu Nui, the smaller Motu Iti and the sea stack of Motu Kao Kao
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25-JUN-2011 Dick Keely

Orongo Petroglyphs, Motu Nui, the smaller Motu Iti and the sea stack of Motu Kao Kao

Orongo on the Rano Kau Volcano, Easter Island

Orongo is a stone village and ceremonial centre at the southwestern tip of Rapa Nui (Easter Island). The first half of the ceremonial village's 53 stone masonry houses were investigated and restored in 1974 by American archaeologist William Mulloy. In 1976 Mulloy assisted by Chilean archaeologists Claudio Cristino and Patricia Vargas completed the restoration of the whole complex which was subsequently investigated by Cristino in 1985 and 1995. ‘Orongo enjoys a dramatic location on the crater lip of Rano Kau at the point where a 250 meter sea cliff converges with the inner wall of the crater of Rano Kau. ‘Orongo now has World Heritage status as part of the Rapa Nui National Park. Until the mid-nineteenth century, ‘Orongo was the centre of the birdman cult, which hosted an annual race to bring the first manutara (Sooty Tern) egg from the islet of Motu Nui to ‘Orongo. The site has numerous petroglyphs, mainly of tangata manu (birdmen). Reference: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orongo


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Chris Morton21-Sep-2011 16:53
amazing history, stunning presentation
Pete Hemington22-Jul-2011 07:52
Wonderful to see this having read about it in the past
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