世界之旅:Easter　Island（复活节岛）

Easter Island is over 2,000 miles from the nearest population center, (Tahiti and Chile), making it one of the most isolated places on Earth. A triangle of volcanic rock in the South Pacific - it is best known for the giant stone monoliths, known as Moai, that dot the coastline. The early settlers called the island "Te Pito O Te Henua" (Navel of The World). Admiral Roggeveen, who came upon the island on Easter Day in 1722, named it Easter Island. Today, the land, people and language are all referred to locally as Rapa Nui.

复活节岛全貌

玻里尼西亚文：Rapa Nui（大地方之意，Rapa　＝　Place），Te－Pito－o－te－Henua（世界之肚脐或中心之意）。

复活岛， 位于南纬27°08°37°，西经109°26°10°，东距智利3500公里，西距Pitcairn岛1750公里。面积166平方公里，人口2000人。行政中心为Hanga Roa，1935年成为国家公园，属于智利的法尔巴拉索（Valparaisa）省。联合国审定为World Heritage Site。石像称“Moai”，有600座，坟场平台称“Ahu”，高３～６公尺，最高者达11公尺，重50公吨，帽子重10公吨，多成群矗立，最多者达15座，为西元1000～1600年完成。土著称此岛为「鸟人国（Land of the Bird Men）」，而石像如白种人面孔，岛上无水源、无树，用黑曜石、火山玻璃和凝灰岩雕刻而成的石像，是否与外星人（Ｅ.Ｔ.，ExtraTerrestrial）有关？

海边石雕像

There has been much controversy and confusion concerning the origins of the Easter Islanders. Thor Heyerdahl proposed that the people who built the statues were of Peruvian descent, due to a similarity between Rapa Nui and Incan stonework. Some have suggested that Easter Island is the remnant of a lost continent, or the result of an extra-terrestrial influence . Archaeological evidence, however, indicates discovery of the island by Polynesians at about 400 AD - led, according to legend, by Hotu Matua. Upon their arrival, an impressive and enigmatic culture began to develop. In addition to the statues, the islanders possessed the Rongorongo script; the only written language in Oceania. The island is also home to many petroglyphs (rock carvings), as well as traditional wood carvings, tapa (barkcloth) crafts, tattooing, string figures, dance and music.

巨型石雕像

据说这些雕像原来都是背海而立，位于圆形的平台上，但由于年代久远，石像大部分已东倒西歪，散落于荒原之中了，有的还有明显被破坏的痕迹。据考证，这些雕像都是本地古代人制作的，但最令人难以理解的是，岛上的人们为什么要雕刻这些巨型石像？史学家们一直在争论不休，有人认为是与墓葬有关，因为曾经在石像下面的神龛里发现过人的尸骨；还有人认为是与当地人的祭祀活动有关，放置石像的平台就是祭祀的圣台。另外，古代人们是如何利用简单的工具将这样巨大而笨重的石像搬运的呢？岛上的传说声称它们是“自己走来的”，但经研究，由于雕像重心很低，所以十几个人就可以把它举起并迅速移动。这种巨大的石雕像在其他岛上也有发现，但在复活节岛上最多。作为人类最初的艺术活动，这些雕像进一步证明了艺术与生产和对自然的神秘崇拜有着十分密切的关系，这是世界各民族史前文化的共同特征。

戴帽人像石雕

Easter Island today, remains one of the most unique places you will ever encounter; an open air museum showcasing a fascinating, but unfortunately lost culture. The Rapanui are among the friendliest people you will ever meet, and the landscape is truly amazing - with its volcanic craters, lava formations, beaches, brilliant blue water, and archaeological sites .

现在的复活岛，然仍是最独特的风景之一，公开博物馆里陈列的东西是神奇的但是不幸的是却至今还是一个谜。在岛上你可以遇到友善的Rapanui人以及令人惊叹的奇景---火山口、熔岩、海滩、耀眼的蓝色海水以及考古遗址。