Hiva Oa, Marquesas Islands, French Polynesia

Tiki Makii Tau'a Pepe, carved in grey keetu or volcanic tuff, representing a woman lying on her stomach with outstretched arms and raised head with huge eyes and mouth, thought to be in the process of childbirth, at the Iipona archaeological site, near the village of Puamau, on the island of Hiva Oa, in the Marquesas Islands, French Polynesia. On the base of this sculpture are petroglyph reliefs of dogs, whose meaning is unclear. Tiki sculptures are usually carved in wood or stone and represent Ti'i, a half-human half-god ancestor who is believed to be the first man. Tiki often have a huge head, symbolising power, and big eyes symbolising knowledge. Tiki are respected and are often placed outside houses as protective statues. The Iipona site was a religious sanctuary or meae, built by the pre-European Marquesian civilisation, arranged over 2 large terraces with 5 monumental tikis. Picture by Manuel Cohen

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Ancestor Childbirth Collectivite Collectivity Doutre-mer Francaise Hiva Hiva-oa Iipona Keetu Marquesan Marquesas Marquesian Marquises Meae Oceania Pepe Polynesia Polynesie Pre-european Puamau Republique Sanctuary Straining Tiki Tuff Volcanic

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