A mysterious new moai statue has emerged from a dried-up lake bed on Easter Island, leaving experts baffled. The statue was found in the Rano Raraku crater, a quarry where the island's famous volcanic stone figures were carved between 1300 and 1600 AD.
Terry Hunt, professor of archaeology at the University of Arizona, said: 'We think we know all the moai, but then a new one turns up. This is the first moai found in a dry lakebed.' The statue measures around 13 feet tall and weighs 12 to 14 tons, making it one of the smallest known moai.
Salvador Atan Hito, vice president of the indigenous organisation Ma'u Henua, added: 'For the Rapa Nui people, this is a very important discovery. Nobody knew it existed, not even our ancestors.' The team hopes that more moai may be uncovered as the lake bed remains dry.
The moai are carved from hardened volcanic ash and represent deified ancestors. The largest ever found, Paro, stands nearly 33 feet tall and weighs 82 tons. Experts are also searching for tools used to carve these iconic figures.
