Question

What is the description of the staff god from Rarotonga, Cook Islands, central Polynesia?

1) A standing semihuman figure with claws, a feline face, and a staff in each hand
2) A towering, pillarlike structure above the figure's head
3) Late 18th to early 19th century C.E.
4) Made of wood, tapa, fiber, and feathers

Answer 1

The moai are monolithic sculptures carved by the Rapa Nui people on Easter Island, known for their oversized heads and prominent facial features, representing ancestral figures and standing as guardians of the island.

Step-by-step explanation:

The moai are monolithic figural sculptures created by the Rapa Nui people on Rapa Nui, also known as Easter Island, which lies in central Polynesia. These impressive works were sculpted from volcanic rock sometime between the 13th and 15th centuries, with the purpose of representing the guardians or ancestral figures of the island. Each moai has distinct features, typically oversized heads, prominent brows, elongated noses, strong chins, and thin lips, with arms carved in low relief against the body. While the tallest of these sculptures stands at ten meters high and weighs an incredible 80 tons, the average weight of a moai is around 14 tons. The construction and transportation of these statues, some over eight kilometers to the shoreline, are considered remarkable feats and continue to spark discussions and research among archaeologists and anthropologists today.