From the Editors

Abstract

In this issue we present an archaeological report on the famous site of Vinapu, by Helene Martisson-Wallin, of the Kon-Tiki Museum. Vinapu's major ahu, Vinapu I and Vinapu II, are well known, and the sea wall at Vinapu I is often compared (erroneously) to Inka stonework. The statue at both of these sites are still lying in rubble, with one exception: a red scoria (headless) figure that was placed upright by William Mulloy during the archaeological work done in 1965. It stands in front of Vinapu II, which also has an embankment that encircles the ceremonial area, a typical feature of shrines elsewhere in Polynesia. Martinsson-Wallin's excavations revealed many interesting features discovered during fieldwork, including root molds of giant palms. Testing also resulted in some postulated settlement dates.