In 1978, the figures from Easter Island, known as Moai, were not removed or significantly altered; they remained on the island. However, there was a significant event involving the Moai: the first ever Moai was re-erected on the island since the fall of the Moai-building Rapa Nui culture. This event marked the beginning of efforts to preserve and restore the Moai statues.
Easter Island, also known as Rapa Nui, is famous for its Moai, the giant stone figures carved by the Rapa Nui people. By the time Europeans arrived in 1722, many of the Moai had been toppled during internal conflicts among the island’s inhabitants. The statues remained in this state for centuries.
In 1978, a project led by archaeologists, with the support of the local Rapa Nui people and international groups, successfully re-erected a Moai at the site known as Ahu Akivi. This was a significant milestone in the history of Easter Island’s archaeological research and marked the beginning of a new era in the conservation and restoration of these magnificent statues.
The re-erection of the Moai in 1978 was part of a larger movement to better understand and preserve the cultural heritage of Easter Island. Since then, numerous restoration projects have been undertaken, some involving the use of modern technology and methods to stabilize and restore the Moai and their ceremonial platforms, known as ahu. These efforts have helped to ensure that the Moai continue to stand as a testament to the island’s unique history and the ingenuity of its early inhabitants.