Mark's Pages

The marae of Taputapuatea, center of the ancient Polynesian religion and one of the most significant archaeological sites in the Pacific. Tradition says that this was the embarkation point for the vast and extraordinary voyages of colonization which settled Rarotonga, Aotearoa (New Zealand), and Hawaii.

Human sacrifice was practiced here, to the war god Tu. Cook counted forty-nine skulls set into the stonework, leading him to conclude, "These sacrifices are not very uncommon."

In recent times, New Agers have taken to leaving scraps of paper stuffed into cracks in the stones. They believe that writing down their negative emotions and sinful actions and leaving them here will expel them.

I felt uncomfortable here and chose not to step on the stones.

Driving away, I came upon two strong Maohi women pushing wheel barrels full of black stones from the marae. Taking them home to build something new.