This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/sci/tech/8236349.stm
The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 2 | Version 3 |
---|---|
Giant statues give up hat mystery | Giant statues give up hat mystery |
(about 5 hours later) | |
Archaeologists have solved an ancient mystery surrounding the famous Easter Island statues. | Archaeologists have solved an ancient mystery surrounding the famous Easter Island statues. |
At 2,500 miles off the coast of Chile, the island is one of the world's most remote places inhabited by people. | At 2,500 miles off the coast of Chile, the island is one of the world's most remote places inhabited by people. |
Up to 1,000 years ago, the islanders started putting giant red hats on the statues. | Up to 1,000 years ago, the islanders started putting giant red hats on the statues. |
The research team, from the University of Manchester and University College London, think the hats were rolled down from an ancient volcano. | The research team, from the University of Manchester and University College London, think the hats were rolled down from an ancient volcano. |
Dr Colin Richards and Dr Sue Hamilton are the first British archaeologists to work on the island since 1914. | Dr Colin Richards and Dr Sue Hamilton are the first British archaeologists to work on the island since 1914. |
They pieced together a series of clues to discover how the statues got their red hats. An adze, a road, and an ancient volcano led to their findings. | |
Dr Richards said: "We know the hats were rolled along the road made from a cement of compressed red scoria dust." | Dr Richards said: "We know the hats were rolled along the road made from a cement of compressed red scoria dust." |
Each hat, weighing several tonnes, was carved from volcanic rock. They were placed on the heads of the famous statues all around the coast of the island. | Each hat, weighing several tonnes, was carved from volcanic rock. They were placed on the heads of the famous statues all around the coast of the island. |
Precisely how and why the hats were attached is unknown. | Precisely how and why the hats were attached is unknown. |
Like an altar | Like an altar |
An adze was found in pristine condition next to the hats. The scientists think it might be an ancient offering. | |
A ceremonial adze was found next to the hats | |
Dr Richards told BBC News: "These hats run all the way down the side of the volcano into the valley. | Dr Richards told BBC News: "These hats run all the way down the side of the volcano into the valley. |
"We can see they were carefully placed. The closer you get to the volcano, the greater the number. | "We can see they were carefully placed. The closer you get to the volcano, the greater the number. |
"It's like a church; you can't just walk straight to the altar. | "It's like a church; you can't just walk straight to the altar. |
"The Polynesians saw the landscape as a living thing, and after they carved the rock the spirits entered the statues." | "The Polynesians saw the landscape as a living thing, and after they carved the rock the spirits entered the statues." |
Dr Richards and Dr Hamilton are joint directors of the "Rapa Nui (Easter Island) Landscapes of Construction Project". They will be working on the island over the next five years. | Dr Richards and Dr Hamilton are joint directors of the "Rapa Nui (Easter Island) Landscapes of Construction Project". They will be working on the island over the next five years. |
Dr Richards added: "We will look to date the earliest statues. Potentially this could rewrite Polynesian history." | Dr Richards added: "We will look to date the earliest statues. Potentially this could rewrite Polynesian history." |