ROCK ART OF THE SACRED PRECINCT AT MATA NGARAU, 'ORONGO

The ceremonial village of 'Orongo is one of the most fascinating and important sites on Easter Island. Located at the top of Rano Kau's precipitous cliffs, 'Orongo offers awe-inspiring views toward the three off-shore islets of Motu Kao Kao, Motu Iti, and Motu Nui. The village consists of about fifty dry-laid stone buildings (referred to by numbers according to Ferdon 1961: Fig.13 7), and occupied seasonally during the famous Birdman competition (Routledge 1920:426, Metraux 1940:331-332). The houses are usually overlapping, which probably simplified their construction.