Tiki head, carved from a small stone, one of many placed on stones and logs about the site, made from rock from Toea peak, pebbles from the beach and blocks of volcanic tuff, at the Iipona archaeological site, near the village of Puamau, on the island of Hiva Oa, in the Marquesas Islands, French Polynesia. Tiki sculptures are usually carved in wood or stone and represent Ti’i, a half-human half-god ancestor who is believed to be the first man. Tiki often have a huge head, symbolising power, and big eyes symbolising knowledge. Tiki are respected and are often placed outside houses as protective statues. The Iipona site was a religious sanctuary or meae, built by the pre-European Marquesian civilisation, arranged over 2 large terraces with 5 monumental tikis. Picture by Manuel Cohen