The Mysteries of Easter Island

The Mysteries of Easter Island Written by Cynthia Kennedy Henzel

复活节岛的奥秘 辛西娅·肯尼迪·亨泽尔 著

Island of Mystery Far in the South Pacific lies a lonely place called Easter Island. The island is home to about 6 ,000 people and hundreds of giant stone statues called Moai. It is also home to many mysteries.

神秘之岛 遥远的南太平洋上，有一座孤零零的小岛，名叫复活节岛。 这座岛上生活着约6000人，还有数百尊名叫「摩艾」的巨型石像。 这里还藏着许许多多的谜团。

Who made the Moai? Scientists think that the first people came to Easter Island between 800 and 1200 years ago. The island is very hard to get to. Other lands with people are more than a thousand miles away across the ocean. So, scientists think that the island people probably made the Moai.

摩艾是谁造的？ 科学家认为，第一批人类来到复活节岛的时间是800到1200年前。 这座岛非常偏远，很难抵达。 最近的有人居住的陆地，也在一千多英里外的大洋彼岸。 所以科学家认为，摩艾大概率是岛上的居民建造的。

Why were the Moai made? Scientists are not sure why the Moai were made. Many think that the Moai are symbols of power and religion. Others think that the Moai were made to remind people of their ancestors. Of the 887 Moai on the island, only seven face the ocean. A legend says that those statues were of seven people who visited the island before it was settled.

为什么要建造摩艾？ 科学家也不确定建造摩艾的原因。 很多人认为摩艾是权力和宗教的象征。 也有人认为，造摩艾是为了纪念人们的祖先。 岛上共有887尊摩艾，其中只有7尊面朝大海。 有个传说讲，这几尊石像的原型，是在岛上有人定居前就来过这里的七个人。

Walking statues? Scientists have found a pit on the island where the moai were cut from a stone wall. Scientists have also discovered the stone tools used to make the moai. However, they're still not sure how the people moved the moai to the edge of the island.

会走路的石像？ 科学家在岛上发现了一个采石坑，摩艾就是从坑内的石壁上凿出来的。 科学家还找到了人们打造摩艾时用的石制工具。 不过，他们还是没搞清楚当时的人是怎么把摩艾运到岛边的。

Many Moai are the size of two tall men. They are as heavy as a school bus. They are too heavy to drag around. The people of the island had no carts.

很多摩艾的个头相当于两个高个子成年男性叠起来那么高。 它们的重量和一辆校车差不多。 石像太重了，根本拖不动。 而且当时岛上的居民也没有推车。