The 1958 book Aku-Aku, the Secret of Easter Island by Thor Heyerdahl suggests that Easter Island's stone-carving technology came from South America. The author had researched on the many giant stone statues called moai (inset) found at Rana Raraku and Anakena in Easter Island. I could have been mistaken but I remember having read that such statues could be found in central Sulawesi. In Tana Toraja in South Sulawesi, there are monoliths called menhirs or simbuang batu at he monolith complex in Kabupaten. These monoliths are errected to commemorate the dead. The Moais in Easter Islands represents the dead ancestor and have also been described as monolithiic sculptures. Perhaps, the stone-carving technology there could have its origin here! 39Which of the structures would remind you of the moai in Easter Island?
Traveling Tip: Imagine!
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