April 7, 2005. Timely through May 15, 2005.
For more information, call 1-800-422-8975, ext. 130. Media photo provided below.

Cortez, Colorado
Tahiti, the largest and most famous of the French Polynesian islands, and Easter Island, where giant stone heads called moai stand watch over one of the most isolated places on earth, have been a mecca for travelers throughout the ages. Yet these islands have also been surrounded in mystery and misunderstanding. For centuries, they supported a thriving population; yet eventually the civilizations found there declined to near extinction. Join Crow Canyon Archaeological Center from August 6–18, 2005, for a fascinating journey into the world of the moai, the people of this region, and Polynesian culture on an exploration into the rich and fascinating history and archaeology of Tahiti and Easter Island.

Comprised of dense rainforests and jutting volcanic mountains, the South Pacific is an incredibly beautiful part of the world. Beginning and ending in Papeete, Tahiti, this exploration visits the islands of Tahiti, Moorea, Huahine, and Easter Island.

Travel with Dr. Terry L. Hunt, Associate Professor of Anthropology at the University of Hawaii-Manoa on this exciting journey. Dr. Hunt has taught at the university since 1988 and has conducted archaeological field research in the Pacific Islands for more than 25 years. He is currently Director of the Pacific Prehistory Project and conducts archaeological field schools and research on Easter Island. His knowledgeable, warm, and winning personality makes him a favorite trip leader.

In Tahiti, visit the Museum of Tahiti and its Islands as well as the Gauguin Museum—featuring exhibits dealing with the life of this famous artist. Both museums are home to some of the best collections in the Pacific. On Moorea Island, explore ancient temples and other sites that reveal a glimpse of prehistoric life in this remote area of the world. Visit Huahine, a dramatic land of lush rainforests, rugged peaks, and blue lagoons and a center of archaeological interest today.

One of the most famous archaeological landscapes in the world, Easter Island is home to the giant and mysterious moai—the enormous stone figures that populate the island. Surrounded by mystery, man has tried to explain their existence for centuries. Carved from a distinctive volcanic tuff, about 1,000 moai stand in silent testament to the ancient people of this area. The sheer size of these figures, up to 65 feet tall, makes the carving of them and their transportation to the final sites almost unimaginable in a society without modern tools. Tour special archaeological excavations in progress with Dr. Hunt, in an ongoing attempt to answer the questions and mystery that surround these gigantic figures.

At the Orongo "Birdman Site," view the hundreds of petroglyphs which depict Birdman and Makemake images for which this area is famous. In Rapa Nui culture, Birdman was the representative on earth of the creator god Makemake. Carved into solid basalt, the petroglyphs have resisted centuries of harsh weather.

The cost for this 13-day, 12-night exploration is $6,795, which includes Crow Canyon tuition, most meals, lodging, gratuities, transfers to and from Papeete Airport, and all transportation after arrival in Tahiti on August 6 to departure on August 18. A single supplement is available.

Crow Canyon is a not-for-profit organization offering excavation, workshop, and travel programs in the greater Southwest and throughout the world.

The photo below may be used by the media to accompany this press release. No other use is authorized. Photographer credit and copyright notice is required.

Two moai stand guard on Easter Island. Photo by Vince Lee. Copyright © 1998 Vince Lee.