It is not known why so many statues had been left at the quarry. Almost 400 with many fully completed. Perhaps it was easier to carve them than carry them? It is estimated to take 18 months for two shifts of 30 men with stone carving tools working round the clock to carve a 6 meter one. Two teams have in the past tried it but both gave up after about 30 days with bloodied fingers and very little progress.
These statues are medium to small in size. The fallen one laying down is a 7m one and helps put the scale of them into perspective. Whilst the one Lidy is standing infront of is Ahu Ko te Riku at 6m high, which is estimated to weigh 40 tons and is 15 kms from the quarry. The largest is 21m high and 180 tons in weight.
Our last day morning the heavens opened so we managed to get a few moody landscapes before heading back to Santiago.
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