Ana Kai Tangata (officially in rapanui: Ana Kai Taŋata) is a sea cave in Easter Island that contains rock art of terns on its ceiling.[1][2] It is located near Mataveri, and the cave opens up directly to the incoming surf.[2] The cave is accessible and one of the most visited caves in Easter Island.[3]
Ana Kai Tangata entranceCave paintings of birds, January 1998View of the ocean from inside the cave
The cave itself is made of volcanic rock that had been eroded away by the ocean.[3][4] It is 10 meters high, 5 meters wide, and 15 meters deep.[3][4] Although it opens out to the ocean, the cave is above the high tide line allowing for accessibility.[3][4] Irregular boulders cover the floor of the cave, and the ceiling of the cave is domed and has good acoustic properties.[4]
Cave paintingsedit
The cave paintings are in red, white, and black and are mostly of the Manutara or the sooty tern.[2][3][5][4] This bird was considered sacred by the followers of the cult of Tangata manu.[3] There are also images of boats, both Polynesian canoes and European ships which may have been considered by the natives to be messengers from another world.[3][4] The pigments were created by vegetables and minerals from the Ahu Vinapu area mixed with shark oil.[3][4] A taheta can be found in the cave, which is a basin that was dug into a rock that may have been used to create the colors.[3][4] Due to water leaks above and the salt from the ocean, the pigments of the paintings are fading.[3]
Etymologyedit
The cave is also known as "Cave of the Cannibals", although the translation is unclear.[3] In Rapa Nui language, ana means cave and tangata means man, but kai could have several meanings.[3] American archaeologist, Georgia Lee, proposed that the name means "cave where men eat", "cave where men are eaten", or "cave that eats men".[1][2] This name may be related to legends that cannibalism occurred in the cave, but evidence is lacking.[1][6] According to some of these legends, there was a battle where the defeated fled to caverns, where the victors captured and ate them.[6] Cannibal feasts possibly could have been held there in the times of the birdman cult, and bones from animals and humans (and some needles formed from human bone) were reportedly found there.[6] This site was also known to contain a carved ceremonial skull.[1] Additionally, the cave is near the start of the Sendero Te Ara o Te Ao, trails that lead to Rano Kau and Orongo.[1]
^ abcdLee, G. (1992). Rock Art of Easter Island: Symbols of Power, Prayers to the Gods. Monumenta Archaeologica; 17 Mathematics; 143. Institute of Archaeology, University of California, Los Angeles. p. 187. ISBN978-0-917956-74-4. Retrieved 2019-07-23.
^ abcdefghijkl"ANA KAI TANGATA - The "cave of the cannibals" of Easter Island". Imagina Easter Island. 2013-08-29. Retrieved 2019-07-23.
^ abcdefghLee, G., & Horley, P. (2013). The paintings of Ana Kai Tangata cave, Easter Island (Rapa Nui). Rapa Nui Journal, 27(2), 11–32
^Barthel, T.S. (1978). The Eighth Land: The Polynesian Discovery and Settlement of Easter Island. University Press of Hawaii. p. 149. ISBN978-0-8248-0553-1. Retrieved 2019-07-23.
^ abcPelta, K. (2001). Rediscovering Easter Island. How history is invented. Lerner Publishing Group. p. 98. ISBN978-0-8225-4890-4. Retrieved 2019-07-23.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Ana Kai Tangata.
tangata, officially, rapanui, taŋata, cave, easter, island, that, contains, rock, terns, ceiling, located, near, mataveri, cave, opens, directly, incoming, surf, cave, accessible, most, visited, caves, easter, island, entrancecave, paintings, birds, january, 1. Ana Kai Tangata officially in rapanui Ana Kai Taŋata is a sea cave in Easter Island that contains rock art of terns on its ceiling 1 2 It is located near Mataveri and the cave opens up directly to the incoming surf 2 The cave is accessible and one of the most visited caves in Easter Island 3 Ana Kai Tangata entranceCave paintings of birds January 1998View of the ocean from inside the cave Contents 1 Physical description 2 Cave paintings 3 Etymology 4 ReferencesPhysical description editThe cave itself is made of volcanic rock that had been eroded away by the ocean 3 4 It is 10 meters high 5 meters wide and 15 meters deep 3 4 Although it opens out to the ocean the cave is above the high tide line allowing for accessibility 3 4 Irregular boulders cover the floor of the cave and the ceiling of the cave is domed and has good acoustic properties 4 Cave paintings editThe cave paintings are in red white and black and are mostly of the Manutara or the sooty tern 2 3 5 4 This bird was considered sacred by the followers of the cult of Tangata manu 3 There are also images of boats both Polynesian canoes and European ships which may have been considered by the natives to be messengers from another world 3 4 The pigments were created by vegetables and minerals from the Ahu Vinapu area mixed with shark oil 3 4 A taheta can be found in the cave which is a basin that was dug into a rock that may have been used to create the colors 3 4 Due to water leaks above and the salt from the ocean the pigments of the paintings are fading 3 Etymology editThe cave is also known as Cave of the Cannibals although the translation is unclear 3 In Rapa Nui language ana means cave and tangata means man but kai could have several meanings 3 American archaeologist Georgia Lee proposed that the name means cave where men eat cave where men are eaten or cave that eats men 1 2 This name may be related to legends that cannibalism occurred in the cave but evidence is lacking 1 6 According to some of these legends there was a battle where the defeated fled to caverns where the victors captured and ate them 6 Cannibal feasts possibly could have been held there in the times of the birdman cult and bones from animals and humans and some needles formed from human bone were reportedly found there 6 This site was also known to contain a carved ceremonial skull 1 Additionally the cave is near the start of the Sendero Te Ara o Te Ao trails that lead to Rano Kau and Orongo 1 References edit a b c d e Kindersley D 2011 DK Eyewitness Travel Guide Chile amp Easter Island EYEWITNESS TRAVEL GUIDES DK Publishing p 259 ISBN 978 0 7566 8391 7 Retrieved 2019 07 23 a b c d Lee G 1992 Rock Art of Easter Island Symbols of Power Prayers to the Gods Monumenta Archaeologica 17 Mathematics 143 Institute of Archaeology University of California Los Angeles p 187 ISBN 978 0 917956 74 4 Retrieved 2019 07 23 a b c d e f g h i j k l ANA KAI TANGATA The cave of the cannibals of Easter Island Imagina Easter Island 2013 08 29 Retrieved 2019 07 23 a b c d e f g h Lee G amp Horley P 2013 The paintings of Ana Kai Tangata cave Easter Island Rapa Nui Rapa Nui Journal 27 2 11 32 Barthel T S 1978 The Eighth Land The Polynesian Discovery and Settlement of Easter Island University Press of Hawaii p 149 ISBN 978 0 8248 0553 1 Retrieved 2019 07 23 a b c Pelta K 2001 Rediscovering Easter Island How history is invented Lerner Publishing Group p 98 ISBN 978 0 8225 4890 4 Retrieved 2019 07 23 nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Ana Kai Tangata 27 09 42 S 109 26 32 W 27 16168 S 109 44220 W 27 16168 109 44220 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Ana Kai Tangata amp oldid 1145123451, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
