Ffion Bright -
Although Easter Island or Rapa Nui is the most isolated island on earth, with its closest neighbour more than 2250 km away, it was not far enough to hide the island from external inputs . European influence and then Chilean annexation in 1888 has meant much of our knowledge about the original citizens of Rapa Nui is either unknown, lost or told through the words of the settlers, whose evangelisation caused Easter islanders to deviate from their culture and religion. Nevertheless we still have limited records on Rapa Nui’s culture and notably its most important rite - the funeral process. Bodies were notably wrapped in vegetation and exposed to open air on the ahu (a ceremonial platform with the famous moai (statutes) which represent the ancestors). Here the dead were left for two years to decompose, following which their bones would be cleaned and placed into a funeral chamber in the ahu which allowed for the spirit of the dead body to be reunited with its ancestors. This long process allows the ancestors to then aid their descendents from beyond the grave and reflects the reverence given to ancestors in Rapa Nui. The practice greatly declined in the periods of food scarcity during the 17th & 18th centuries, but it remains important to remember such important practices, and see Rapa Nui for its culture and history and not just for the tourist attraction it has unfortunately become.
Bibliography
Chile Precolombino. n.d. “Beliefs and Funerary Practices – Rapa Nui - Chile Precolombino.” http://chileprecolombino.cl/en/pueblos-originarios/rapa-nui/culto-y-funebria/#:~:text=Ceremonies%20related%20to%20death%20also.
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