The enigmatic Easter Island statues, known colloquially as the Moai, have long captivated and enthralled visitors. However, recent research has revealed that these famous statues have bodies that are buried deep beneath the earth.

Easter Island, a remote island in the southeastern Pacific Ocean, is home to the Moai statues. The Rapa Nui people carved the statues between the 13th and 16th centuries, and they are thought to represent their ancestors. With their oversized heads and solemn expressions, the Moai have become a symbol of the island and its culture.

For many years, it was assumed that the Moai were simply heads because only the tops of the statues could be seen above ground. Archaeologists began to uncover the bodies of the statues in the early twentieth century, revealing that they were full-bodied figures.

Despite this discovery, it wasn’t until recently that an Easter Island Statue Project team led by Jo Anne Van Tilburg conducted a thorough investigation of one of the statues. The team examined the Tukuturi statue, which is located on the island’s south coast, using ground-penetrating radar and other techniques.

Stock Photos from Bryan Busovicki/Shutterstock

Stock Photos from Bryan Busovicki/Shutterstock

Tukuturi is about 4.5 meters (15 feet) tall, with a body buried up to its neck in the ground, according to their investigation. The body is much narrower than the head and is made of cylindrical stone blocks. The arms of the statue are carved into the body, and there are carvings on the back as well.

Tukuturi’s body discovery has shed new light on the Moai statues and their construction. The statues are thought to have been carved from volcanic rock before being transported to their current locations. After that, the bodies were buried, with only the heads visible above ground. The statues’ purpose is unknown, but they are thought to have had religious or ceremonial significance.

The Easter Island Statue Project continues to investigate the Moai statues in order to learn more about their construction and history. We can now see the Moai in a new light, not just as enigmatic heads, but as full-bodied figures that continue to intrigue and fascinate us, thanks to their efforts.