Offerings, Marae Taputapuatea, Taputapuatea, Raiatea

Pile of ritual offerings including pots, engraved stones and shell necklaces, in front of the ahu of Marae Taputapuatea, c. 1000 AD, a large religious and ceremonial temple site with a 60 x 45m stone courtyard and an ahu or altar made from 3m high standing stones cut from coral, at Taputapuatea, at Te Po, in the Opoa valley, on the island of Raiatea, in the Leeward Islands, Society Islands, French Polynesia. This marae marks the spot where Ta'aroa, creator and father of all Polynesian gods, first stepped on the earth. In the 17th century, it was rededicated to the god Oro, son of Ta'aroa and god of beauty, fertility and war. This site was a meeting place and sacrificial site for travellers from all over the Pacific. Picture by Manuel Cohen

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1000 Archipel Collectivite Collectivity Doutre-mer Fenua Francaise Havaii Iles Lagoon Leeward Marae Matai Oceania Opoa Paepae Pile Polynesia Polynesian Polynesie Raiatea Raro Republique Societe Sous-le-vent Tamara Taputapuātea Totaiete

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