Several theories exist but the exact historical meaning and purpose of the hei-tiki remains unclear. It is certain these objects were highly valued by their native owners. So much that they were given names and were thought to accomodate the souls of previous ancestral wearers.
Hei Tiki pendants commonly resembled a human-like being with crossed legs, a to one side tilted head and in most cases, with female genitals.
Typical hei tiki pendants were characterized by a forked tongue, a relatively big mouth shaped like a flattened heart, the iris of the eye existed of a ring of paua shell and, which is typical for Maori carvings, had three fingers to each hand and three toes to each foot.
