Rano Raraku

Rano Raraku is a volcanic tuff quarry and crater on Easter Island (Rapa Nui) that served as the primary source of stone for the island’s moai statues. The site contains hundreds of moai carved into the crater slopes and is a principal archaeological location on the island.

The slopes show moai at many stages of production - from rough-hewn blocks to near-complete statues - with almost 400 figures visible across the site. Many statues lie on their backs or are partially buried, providing direct evidence of the island’s sculpting practices and the scale of production.

The moai were carved by the Rapa Nui people over several centuries before European contact and were transported around the island after carving. Rano Raraku sits on the eastern side of Easter Island and is visited via short drives from the island’s main settlement; the crater’s geology explains why the stone from this site was preferred for the statues.

• Moai count: Nearly 400 carved stone figures are present on-site in various stages of completion, making it the principal moai quarry on Easter Island.
• Visitor note: Uneven ground and exposed stone make sturdy footwear advisable and approach paths are short but can be irregular underfoot.

What to See #

• Quarry slopes: The main quarry slope contains nearly 400 moai in a range of states from roughly finished to abandoned; many remain partially buried or toppled on the hillside.
• Crater and tuff: The volcanic crater at the top of the site holds a shallow wet area and provides the geological context for the tuff used to carve the moai.