| Ahu.
This structure is located perpendicular to the main ahu (F48), 20m at its center at 120 degrees (inland). Most of the
vertical construction evident in the north and south oriented walls
consists of paenga placed both
vertically and horizontally. It is most common to see the first layer
constructed with vertically placed
paenga, while the following layers often consist of horizontally
placed stones (see cross-section map). In many places the top layers are
constructed with many different sized basalt boulders that do not appear
to be placed in any clear pattern. It may possibly be a fill layer or the
remnants of a less stable period of construction that has since fallen
apart. The eastern end (inland) only shows three clear layers of paenga.
As one moves west along the ahu
wall, the vertical paenga become
both thicker and longer. Towards the west end there is indication of up to
5 layers of paenga, making
construction more elaborate. It appears that this has occurred because the
contour of the ground forced more vertical construction on the west side
to level out the top layer of the ahu.
Extending from the northwestnorthwest portion of the ahu
are almost 20 medium sized poro
placed systematically along the base of the wall. This pavement appears to
have been constructed by placing these rocks at different spacing
intervals upon which the next row of rocks filled. The average diameter of
these stones is 30 cm. It is not clear to what extent this pavement might
have extended, but poro can be
found scattered as far as 3.80m from the primary structure (ahu). |
