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Easter Island Rock Carvings - Stock Photos |
| The rocks at Orongo are carved with hundreds
of petroglyphs of birdman. The sea birds, especially the frigate bird,
became an important symbol for the Rapa Nui. As frigates nested in
trees, they became more and more scarce due to the deforestation on
the island. Changing weather conditions as well as over hunting also
contributed to decrease in the number of other bird species. Although
the birdman cult seems to have overtaken the statue building cult
there are ties between the two. In on of the houses at Orongo was
found an 8' high moai, complete with sacred loin cloth bas relief
carved on it. But superimposed over the moai body are birdman and
other symbols of the Orongo practitioners. So it appears that the
two groups had some how come to terms with the differing beliefs that
were present on the island. |
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