510 



REPORT OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1889. 



Thirteen colossal images that once ornamented this remarkable struc- 

 ture have been thrown down and more or less damaged. Their red 

 tufa crowns, also considerably broken, lie near at hand. On tbe in- 

 land facing-wall there is a ground tier of gray volcanic stone finely 

 dressed, and on this is a tier of tufa stones 4i feet long, 2i feet high, 

 and S inches thick each, and these are covered with hieroglyphics. 

 This is known as the King's platform, and is regarded as one of the 

 most important on the island, on account of the finished work on the 

 structure as well as the numerous sculptures (Fig. 19). The tradition 



Fig. 19. 

 Sculptured rock: King's platform. 



asserts that this was the burial place of Hotu-Matua, the first king, 

 and a long line of his descendants. Our excavations in the vicinity 

 produced nothing of interest beyond a few ancient skulls with lower 

 jaws of extraordinary size and width. From the foundation of image- 

 builders' houses we obtained fine stone implements and carving tools. 



Platform No. 81. — Called " Harerora". Small and unimportant. One 

 image, much broken. 



Platform No. 82.— Called "Motuopope". Central section 252 feet 

 long, 10 feet wide, and 7 feet high. Extreme length, 375 feet. Six im- 

 ages in rather bad condition. This structure is important from the fact 

 that the statues have short ears, the only ones of the kind we found on 

 the island. The sketches will show that on all the platforms, as well 

 the images in the workshops as those left in an unfinished state were 

 all carved with long ears. Why there was an exception made to the 

 general rule in the images that adorned this structure, could not be 

 determined. 



Platform No. 83. — Called "Anaonero". Consisting of foundation 

 stones only, showing that the work was abandoned shortly after being 

 commenced. 



Platform No. 84. — Called "Huareva". A mere mass of ruins. 



Platform No. 85. — Called "Hoekoe". Has been completely demol- 

 ished and shows fragments of two large images. 



Platform No. 8G. — Called "Pakaea". Central section 45 feet long, 8 

 feet wide, and 7 feet high, with wings extending 250 feet on either side. 

 One image, in a bad condition. 



