New Easter Island moai statue discovered in volcano crater

The 1.6-metre statue has been described as ‘full-bodied with recognisable features but no clear definition’

A new moai – one of Easter Island’s iconic monolithic statues – has been found in the bed of a dry lake in a volcano crater, the Indigenous community that administers the site on the Chilean island has said.

The statue was found on 21 February by a team of scientific volunteers from three Chilean universities who were collaborating on a project to restore the marshland in the crater inside the Rano Raraku volcano.

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Easter Island fire causes ‘irreparable’ damage to famous moai statues

Forest fire that swept through more than 100 hectares of national park, with some moai ‘totally charred’

A forest fire that tore through part of Easter Island has charred some of its monumental carved stone figures, known as moai, authorities have said.

The blaze reportedly swept through the Rapa Nui national park, 3,500km (2,175 miles) off the west coast of Chile, causing “irreparable” damage to the archaeological site.

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