Monuments: Saving the Moai & Ahus

Tiny Easter Island is only 14 miles long and 1,300 miles from the nearest populated island ("farther from anywhere than anywhere").

Yet its inhabitants in pre-recorded history developed a civilization with advanced knowledge of astronomy and engineering, great road-building ability, a written language. Most famous achievements were their alms (temples) and moai (great stone monoliths), the largest of which weigh up to 80 tons, rise to the height of a six-story building. Now in the person of Capuchin Father Sebastian Englert, 78, comes word that quick action is needed if the great sculptures are to survive. "It is an urgent matter," Father Sebastian told a New York audience, "which cannot wait."

Many of the sculptures were toppled by natives three centuries ago, during bloody internecine warfare between two island clans. Since then, erosion has taken its toll, natives have torn down ancient temples for their own needs; lately, road and airport engineers have joined in the destruction. The newest threat is the tourist invasion, bringing in its train unsupervised treasure hunting and souvenir collecting. Before it is too late, Father Sebastian pleads, a fund must be set up to uncover and restore the island's largely uninvestigated monuments. "Fully restored," says Tour Director Lars-Eric Lindblad, "Easter Island will equal anything in Egypt." Says Anthropologist Dr. William Mulloy, an associate of Father Sebastian's: "If some sort of control is not exercised, within a decade the island will be lost."