In 1960, an earthquake in Chile triggered a tidal wave, which hit the coast of Easter Island
at Tongariki. The tidal wave sent the 15 Tongariki moai—some of which weigh 30 tons—several hundred feet inland. The ahu, the largest on Easter Island, was effectively
destroyed. It wasn't until 1992 that the site was restored, under the direction of Chilean
archaeologist, Claudio Cristino. The task took five years.
Raising the Moai
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