The Tahai Ceremonial Complex is an
archaeological site on
Rapa Nui
Easter Island ( rap, Rapa Nui; es, Isla de Pascua) is an island and special territory of Chile in the southeastern Pacific Ocean, at the southeasternmost point of the Polynesian Triangle in Oceania. The island is most famous for its nearly ...
(
Easter Island
Easter Island ( rap, Rapa Nui; es, Isla de Pascua) is an island and special territory of Chile in the southeastern Pacific Ocean, at the southeasternmost point of the Polynesian Triangle in Oceania. The island is most famous for its ne ...
) in
Chilean Polynesia
Easter Island ( rap, Rapa Nui; es, Isla de Pascua) is an island and special territory of Chile in the southeastern Pacific Ocean, at the southeasternmost point of the Polynesian Triangle in Oceania. The island is most famous for its nearly ...
. Restored in 1974 by American archaeologist
William Mulloy
William Thomas Mulloy Jr. (May 3, 1917 – March 25, 1978) was an American anthropologist. While his early research established him as a formidable scholar and skillful fieldwork supervisor in the province of North American Plains archaeology, h ...
, Tahai comprises three principal ''ahu'' from north to south: Ko Te Riku (with restored eyes), Tahai, and Vai Ure. Visible in the distance from Tahai are two restored ''ahu'' at
Hanga Kio'e, projects that Mulloy undertook in 1972. Like other Mulloy restoration projects at
Ahu Akivi
Ahu Akivi is a particular sacred place on the Chilean island of Rapa Nui (or Easter Island), looking out towards the Pacific Ocean. The site has seven moai, all of equal shape and size, and is also known as a celestial observatory that was se ...
, the ceremonial village of
Orongo
Orongo is a stone village and ceremonial center at the southwestern tip of Rapa Nui (Easter Island). It consists of a collection of low, sod-covered, windowless, round-walled buildings with even lower doors positioned on the high south-westerly t ...
and
Vinapu, the ceremonial center at Tahai now constitutes an integral part of the
Rapa Nui National Park
Rapa Nui National Park ( es, Parque nacional Rapa Nui) is a national park and UNESCO World Heritage Site located on Easter Island, Chile. Rapa Nui is the Polynesian name of Easter Island; its Spanish name is Isla de Pascua. The island is located ...
, designated by
UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations (UN) aimed at promoting world peace and security through international cooperation in education, arts, sciences and culture. It ...
as a
World Heritage
A World Heritage Site is a landmark or area with legal protection by an international convention administered by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). World Heritage Sites are designated by UNESCO for ...
site.
William Mulloy and Emily Ross Mulloy are buried at Tahai.
References
* Mulloy, W.T., and S.R. Fischer. 1993. ''Easter Island Studies: Contributions to the History of Rapanui in Memory of William T. Mulloy.'' Oxford: Oxbow Books.
* Mulloy, W.T., World Monuments Fund, and Easter Island Foundation. 1995. ''The Easter Island Bulletins of William Mulloy.'' New York; Houston: World Monuments Fund; Easter Island Foundation.
* Norwegian Archaeological Expedition to Easter Island and the East Pacific, T. Heyerdahl, E.N. Ferdon, W.T. Mulloy, A. Skjølsvold, C.S. Smith. 1961. ''Archaeology of Easter Island.'' Stockholm; Santa Fe, N.M.: Forum Pub. House; distributed by The School of American Research.
External links
*
Easter Island FoundationWilliam Mulloy LibraryFather Sebastian Englert Anthropology Museum
{{coord, -27.1402, -109.4271, type:landmark_region:CL, display=title
Easter Island ahu
Archaeological sites in Chile
Archaeological sites in Easter Island
1974 establishments in Easter Island