Easter Island weaponry and other interesting facts

migueldiaz · 17th January 2012, 12:30 AM

Gav & Vandoo, nice

thanks!

Gavin Nugent · 21st January 2012, 03:49 AM

Barry, thank you so very much for bringing forth these images!

Of interest are those knapped spear heads and what an odd shape to see...square....

There are very similar weapons to the Maori too, great stuff!

AJ1356 · 21st January 2012, 11:51 AM

This is some cool stuff, thanks for sharing. To me the arrow heads could mean hunting, or maybe a bit more advanced warfare than wooden clubs. Very interesting.

fearn · 21st January 2012, 05:12 PM

Hi AJ,

I think those flaked obsidian are "spear" heads, not arrowheads. They were the sharp end of a weapon known as a mata'a. On a short shaft, they were used as a short spear/dagger/axe, while on a longer shaft, they became polearm heads. These weapons were used by the toa (warriors) and matatoa (master warriors) who basically took over when Rapan society broke down. They're quite common on the island, (un)fortunately, and they seem to be quite variable in size and shape.

Best,

F

AJ1356 · 22nd January 2012, 12:09 PM

fearn,
Thanks for the info, always was facinated the by Easter Islands and what could be discovered there. But ofcourse I don't have much info, so learning things here and there is very helpful .

VANDOO · 25th January 2012, 12:58 AM

A PICTURE OF A RARE OLD EASTER ISLAND CLUB, REPRESENTING THE FISH MAN. IT IS IN AN ARTICLE ON EASTER ISLAND IN THE TWO BOOK SET " WONDERS OF THE PAST" BY HAMMERTON 1948 VOL.1 COPYWRITE 1923 TO 1937. UNFORTUNATELY NO SIZE GIVEN BUT I SUSPECT IT TO BE FROM 18 TO 24 INCHES LONG AT MAXIMUM. ITS ONE OF MY FAVORITES AND RESEMBLES A TYPE OF WRASSE FISH.

A SIDE NOTE! EVEN THOUGH THE NATIVES OF EASTER ISLAND HAD OBSIDIAN ONE OF THE BEST AND EASIEST MATERIALS FOR KNAPPING STONE POINTS THEY NEVER DEVELOPED THE MASTERY TO MAKE THE INCREDIBLE POINTS BUT REMAINED VERY CRUDE. YET ANOTHER MYSTERY OF THE ISLAND.

fearn · 13th April 2013, 10:20 PM

Fishing this one out of the depths....

Well, it looks like everything I thought I knew about Easter Island is wrong.

Great talk by Terry Hunt and Carly Lipo at http://longnow.org/seminars/02013/ja...easter-island/

They've spent over a decade investigating the archeology of Easter Island, and they're pretty sure that the Collapse/ecocide story is wrong in just about every detail. There was a collapse, but it was caused (as in most other cases) by disease introduced by a Spanish ship.

They've got a book out too at Amazon (search their names).

Best,

F

25th January 2012, 12:58 AM	#6
VANDOO (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: OKLAHOMA, USA Posts: 3,138	A PICTURE OF A RARE OLD EASTER ISLAND CLUB, REPRESENTING THE FISH MAN. IT IS IN AN ARTICLE ON EASTER ISLAND IN THE TWO BOOK SET " WONDERS OF THE PAST" BY HAMMERTON 1948 VOL.1 COPYWRITE 1923 TO 1937. UNFORTUNATELY NO SIZE GIVEN BUT I SUSPECT IT TO BE FROM 18 TO 24 INCHES LONG AT MAXIMUM. ITS ONE OF MY FAVORITES AND RESEMBLES A TYPE OF WRASSE FISH. A SIDE NOTE! EVEN THOUGH THE NATIVES OF EASTER ISLAND HAD OBSIDIAN ONE OF THE BEST AND EASIEST MATERIALS FOR KNAPPING STONE POINTS THEY NEVER DEVELOPED THE MASTERY TO MAKE THE INCREDIBLE POINTS BUT REMAINED VERY CRUDE. YET ANOTHER MYSTERY OF THE ISLAND. Attached Images Last edited by VANDOO; 25th January 2012 at 06:17 AM.

17th January 2012, 12:30 AM	#1
migueldiaz Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Manila, Phils. Posts: 1,042	Gav & Vandoo, nice thanks!

21st January 2012, 03:49 AM	#2
Gavin Nugent Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 2,818	Barry, thank you so very much for bringing forth these images! Of interest are those knapped spear heads and what an odd shape to see...square.... There are very similar weapons to the Maori too, great stuff!

21st January 2012, 11:51 AM	#3
AJ1356 Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Nashville Posts: 317	This is some cool stuff, thanks for sharing. To me the arrow heads could mean hunting, or maybe a bit more advanced warfare than wooden clubs. Very interesting.

21st January 2012, 05:12 PM	#4
fearn Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 1,247	Hi AJ, I think those flaked obsidian are "spear" heads, not arrowheads. They were the sharp end of a weapon known as a mata'a. On a short shaft, they were used as a short spear/dagger/axe, while on a longer shaft, they became polearm heads. These weapons were used by the toa (warriors) and matatoa (master warriors) who basically took over when Rapan society broke down. They're quite common on the island, (un)fortunately, and they seem to be quite variable in size and shape. Best, F

22nd January 2012, 12:09 PM	#5
AJ1356 Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Nashville Posts: 317	fearn, Thanks for the info, always was facinated the by Easter Islands and what could be discovered there. But ofcourse I don't have much info, so learning things here and there is very helpful .

13th April 2013, 10:20 PM	#7
fearn Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 1,247	Fishing this one out of the depths.... Well, it looks like everything I thought I knew about Easter Island is wrong. Great talk by Terry Hunt and Carly Lipo at http://longnow.org/seminars/02013/ja...easter-island/ They've spent over a decade investigating the archeology of Easter Island, and they're pretty sure that the Collapse/ecocide story is wrong in just about every detail. There was a collapse, but it was caused (as in most other cases) by disease introduced by a Spanish ship. They've got a book out too at Amazon (search their names). Best, F