WHEN ITEMS SUCH AS CLUBS ARE NO LONGER IN USE THEY ARE OFTEN SET ASIDE OR DISCARDED AND DESTROYED BY ROT OR BUGS. WHEN THE CULTURE OF THE EASTER ISLANDS COLAPSED AND AGAIN LATER WHEN THE RACE WAS DESTROYED BY SPAIN THERE WAS NO DEMAND FOR THEIR ARTEFACTS SO MOST WERE DESTROYED BY NATURE OR INTENTIONALY.
SO FEW AUTHENTIC ITEMS REMAIN BUT A DEMAND AROSE SO REPLICAS WERE MADE TO FILL THE DEMAND AND ARE STILL MADE TODAY. THIS APPLYS TO MANY CULTURES AND PLACES WHERE ARTEFACTS ARE RARE. THE BAD NEWS IS THESE ARE OFTEN SOLD AS OLD ANTIQUES AND THE PRICES ARE HIGH. THE GOOD NEWS IS SOME OF THE CARVERS ARE VERY SKILLED AND MAKE A GOOD REPLICA THAT MAY EXCEED THE OLD ORIGINALS, YET STILL STAY TRUE TO ORIGINAL FORMS. IF THE PRICE IS RIGHT I HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH SUCH REPLICAS AS IT WOULD TAKE REMARKABLE LUCK AND LOTS OF CASH TO AQUIRE AN ORIGINAL.
IF ANYONE HAS ANY PICTURES OF DIFFERENT FORMS OF WEAPONS FROM EASTER ISLAND, PLEASE POST THEM.
HERE IS A CARVING WITH A SHARP TAIL REFERRED TO AS A LIZZARD MAN DON'T THINK IT IS A WEAPON BUT IS POINTY.
ALSO A PICTURE OF A NEWLY MADE RONGO BOARD