The cylinders
Huge and red.
Dennis G. Jarvis — CC BY-SA 2.0 · Dennis G. Jarvis — CC BY-SA 2.0 · Dennis G. Jarvis — CC BY-SA 2.0 · Dennis G. Jarvis — CC BY-SA 2.0 · Dennis G. Jarvis — CC BY-SA 2.0
Puna Pau is a small volcanic crater and ancient quarry on the edge of Hanga Roa, in the south-west of Chile's Easter Island in the Pacific. It gives its name to one of the seven sectors of Rapa Nui National Park, a World Heritage Site. Puna Pau was the only source of the red volcanic stone from which the ancient Rapa Nui carved the pukao, the cylindrical topknots placed on the heads of some moai statues. Its stone was also used for facing blocks on the stone platforms. British teams excavated the site between 2009 and 2013. You see huge cylinders of dark red stone lying on green grass on the hillside, some half carved, and the red crater wall with cutting marks. From the top of the hill a view opens over Hanga Roa, the blue ocean and green plains. It is about 3 km from central Hanga Roa in a straight line. The path is short and easy; do not touch or sit on the stones.
Huge and red.
Cutting marks.
Over Hanga Roa.
Near Hanga Roa, Easter Island, Chile
Red stone topknots placed on some moai.
Yes, the national park ticket covers it.