Marae Ti'i-Rua, Opunohu, Mo'orea, Society islands

Marae Ti'i-Rua, a stone sacred temple platform with sacred trees, built mid 15th century - early 16th century, during the Atiro'o period, and enlarged in the 18th century, in the Opunohu Valley, on the island of Mo'orea, Windward Islands, Society Islands, French Polynesia. The marae is built on Ti'i-rua or double divinity land, orientated toward the Mou'a Roa mountain. The site has been excavated by K P Emory in 1925 and R C Green in 1960, and was inhabited long before the marae was built. The enclosure wall or patu is of basalt, and the courtyard or tahua contains 15 ofa'i ti'a (standing stones) and 2 ofa'i turu'i (support stones). Skeletons have been found, suggesting this was a site used for human sacrifice. Opunohu was once a huge site in the volcanic crater, with only a few structures remaining, which were restored in 1969 Y H Sinoto of the Bishop Museum in Honolulu. Picture by Manuel Cohen

Picture No

13439000

Media ID

45137629

Size

7087px x 4740px (15.5MB)

Credit

Manuel Cohen / Mary Evans

Source

Photograph by Manuel Cohen