Anakena

Anakena on Easter Island

Anakena is a bay on the north coast of Easter Island. According to legend, Hotu Matua is here, the mythical founding father of the Easter Island people, landed and founded a settlement. This branch was the nucleus for the colonization of Easter Island.

Geography

At the end of the 500 -meter diameter bay on the north coast there is a small white sand beach, on Easter Island a rarity. It is an ideal landing site for shallow-draft canoes. In that regard, contains the legend of Hotu Matua probably a kernel of truth. Today, the area is covered with a small coconut groves. The coconut palm was originally not on Easter Island before, today's palm trees were planted in the 20th century.

History

Anakena belonged to the territory of the powerful and influential Miru tribe of the Ariki Mau, the spiritual leader of the Easter Island, and turned his lineage back led directly to Hotu Matua. On bay are two large, now restored Ahu ( Zeremonialplattform ), Ahu Nau Nau of seven Moai and Ahu the Ature Huki with still a standing stone figure. One may assume, therefore, that here was an important settlement site in the classical period.

At Anakena has two archaeologically tangible relics, remains of dwellings that can be associated according to the tradition of the Rapanui with Hotu Matua: A cave house ( Hotu Matua 's Cave ) and foundation parts of a Paenga - house ( Hotu Matua 's House ).

Hotu Matua's cave is about 200 m southwest of the beach. Here is, the Rapanui, Hotu Matua say after his landing on Easter Island have lived until his house was completed. The cave is located with yet another cavern in a natural channel. Arne Skjölsvold by the Norwegian Easter Island expedition of Thor Heyerdahl 1952/53, has studied only about 6 m deep, low cave whose entrance was narrowed artificially with stone layers. He found a spearhead of obsidian ( mataa ), which he dated to the 17th or 18th century and some remains of European commercial products. Signs of prehistoric inhabitants he did not find.

By Hotu Matua's house near the Ahu Nau Nau, a single row of machined foundation stones of basalt is only obtained ( for construction → Paenga - house). The Fund position indicates an exceptionally large, north - south- oriented structure. However, the entire west side is missing. Skjölsvold suspected that the plant was never completed. He found during excavations in the interior of any household goods or other relics of residents, so that Hotu Matua - house was probably never inhabited.

However, there is more to the interior remains of numerous residential buildings, earth ovens and inclosed gardens, which suggest a high population density. They show that in the Anakena Bay actually the first settlement of Easter Island could have found.

Today, the Anakena beach - is sometimes used as a bathing place for tourists. Immediately behind the beach is a public picnic area with wooden tables and benches.

Anakena in 1994 was one of the venues of the produced by Kevin Costner Hollywood film Rapa Nui - Rebellion in paradise.