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 nearl ...

) 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 Plains Indians, North American Plains ...

, 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 Hanga is a village in Parner taluka in Ahmednagar district of the state of Maharashtra.Maps of India, Map of Haga Village. https://www.mapsofindia.com/villages/maharashtra/ahmadnagar/parner/hanga.html. Temple Hanga has a popular temple of ...

, 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 set u ...

, 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 h ...

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 Foundation

William Mulloy Library

Father Sebastian Englert Anthropology Museum
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