Easter Island Museum: Exploring Rapa Nui’s past

The Sebastian Englert Anthropological Museum, the only museum on Easter Island, is a fascinating window into Rapa Nui’s past. Named after the German Capuchin priest who dedicated his life to the study of the Rapa Nui culture, this museum houses a rich collection of artifacts that narrate the history and traditions of the island.

Sebastian Englert Museum: A treasure trove of history and culture

The Anthropological Museum of Easter Island is named after Sebastian Englert, who arrived on the island in 1935 and spent the last 34 years of his life documenting and preserving the Rapa Nui culture. Englert conducted the first archaeological inventory of the island and carried out the first restoration of the ceremonial village of Orongo. Among his most outstanding works are the Rapanui-Spanish Dictionary (1938), Traditions of Easter Island (1939), and The Land of Hotu Matu’a (1948).

Founded in 1973, the museum was created from the archaeological pieces collected by Englert, which were donated to the Chilean State after his death in 1969. The collection has grown over time thanks to new research and archaeological discoveries. Today, the museum houses about 15,000 objects, although only a small part is on permanent display.

Main pieces of the museum of Easter Island:

• Moai Eye: This moai eye, made of white coral with a red slag pupil, was discovered during the restoration of the Ahu Nau Nau at Anakena in 1978. Although it is unknown whether the eyes were placed permanently or only during special ceremonies, this find is one of the most important in the collection.
• Rongo Rongo tablets: The Rongo Rongo tablets contain the enigmatic Rapa Nui writing system. Although none of the 27 original tablets are found on Easter Island, the museum exhibits replicas of those in the Museum of Natural History in Santiago, Chile.
• Carving Tools: The museum has a large collection of carving tools made of basalt and obsidian. These tools were used by the ancient islanders to carve the monuments found throughout the island.
• Female Moai: This rare female moai, with clearly distinctive features such as prominent breasts and a carved vulva, is one of the twelve female moais discovered on the island. Her torso was found by Thor Heyerdahl in 1956 in Anakena and was in the Kon Tiki museum in Oslo until the head was found in 1988, allowing the complete sculpture to be exhibited on Easter Island.

Considerations when visiting the museum

1. Opening hours: The museum is open Tuesday through Friday from 09:30 am to 5:30 pm, and on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays from 09:30 am to 12:30 pm. It is closed on Mondays and on specific dates such as December 25, January 1, Good Friday and May 1. On September 17 and December 24 and 31, it is open only in the morning.
2. How to get to the Easter Island museum: The museum is located just 300 meters from Tahai, accessible on foot by following the road along the coast. From Hanga Roa, the trip takes only an additional minute along the paved road to Tahai. It is also possible to visit the museum as part of many guided tours available on the island.

The Sebastian Englert Anthropological Museum is an essential destination for anyone visiting Easter Island. It offers an in-depth look at the rich history and culture of Rapa Nui, with exhibits that will fascinate both the curious and the scholar. If you want to learn more about the island, this museum is the perfect place to begin your exploration.

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