Puna Pau is the only place on Rapa Nui where red volcanic scoria was quarried to carve the Pukao — the ceremonial headdress that crowned around 58 of the 164 moai once raised on an Ahu. Carved between 1250 and 1500, their red colour symbolised the sacred and the rank of those with Mana. The crater of the extinct volcano Maunga Vai-o-Hao still holds more than 70 Pukao abandoned at different stages of production and transport.
Puna’a Pau The Quarry of Pūkao
Some 58 Moai (statues) of the 164 that were once raised on an Ahu (platform) received a crown or headdress of red volcanic scoria which was called a Pukao. These were carved between the years 1250 and 1500 and probably represent a hair style, tied up like a bun, which was a common Rapa Nui usage. The red colour is symbolic of that which is sacred and of the high rank associated with those persons with Mana, a supernatural power which emanates from the ancestors.
Inside the Crater: A Quarry of Up to 11 Tonnes
Puna Pau is within the crater of Maunga Vai-o-Hao, an extinct volcano. One third of the crater was utilized in the production of Pukao, which could reach up to 11 tonnes in weight. To date, more than 70 headdresses have been located, some on the ceremonial platforms — including Ahu Akivi and the Ahu Nau Nau at Anakena — and some abandoned en route to their platforms. Many more may have been broken up and then incorporated into those same platforms.
On one side of Puna Pau, a road was discovered which was used to transport the Pukao. They were most probably pushed or rolled by hand, although it is also possible that wooden trunks were used. All indications are that there were several different teams which worked in the quarry and competed to hold on to their own production areas within Puna Pau, just as in the quarry of the Moai on Rano Raraku.
Why Don’t Some Moai Have a Pukao?
Not every moai received a Pukao — only 58 of 164. The most curious case is Ahu Akivi, located just 4 km from this quarry, whose seven moai carry none at all despite the proximity. This remains one of the unsolved mysteries of Rapanui archaeology: it may indicate a specific construction period, a different tribal hierarchy, or that the platform was completed before the custom of crowning moai became widespread.
Frequently Asked Questions about Puna Pau
What is Puna Pau on Easter Island?
Puna Pau is the crater of an extinct volcano on Rapa Nui, the sole source of the red volcanic scoria used to carve the Pukao — the ceremonial headdress worn by some moai. It is located a few kilometres from Hanga Roa and is one of the seven regions of Rapa Nui National Park.
What is the Pukao of the moai?
The Pukao is a headdress of red volcanic scoria that crowned 58 of the 164 moai once raised on an Ahu. Carved between 1250 and 1500, they probably represented hair tied up in a topknot, Rapanui style. Their red colour symbolised the sacred and the rank of those with Mana.
How were the Pukao transported from Puna Pau?
Archaeologists believe the Pukao were pushed or rolled by hand, possibly using wooden logs as rollers. A road used for this transport was discovered alongside Puna Pau. More than 70 Pukao have been located to date, some on ceremonial platforms and others abandoned along the route.
Why doesn’t Ahu Akivi have a Pukao if it’s so close to Puna Pau?
Despite being just 4 km from the quarry, none of the seven moai at Ahu Akivi carry a Pukao. It is one of Easter Island’s unsolved mysteries, possibly related to the construction period or a different tribal hierarchy.