Did rongorongo exist before European contact in 1722?
Most likely: rongorongo was invented on Rapa Nui before 1722Ahead on the evidence, not yet confirmed. It needs two reviews to be accepted.
Where it stands
Three answers have been proposed. Rongorongo was invented on Rapa Nui before 1722. leads, with evidence 2 for: partly supported by its tests. Two are still possible.
Why it matters
A pre-contact rongorongo would be one of the few independent inventions of writing. A post-1770 rongorongo would be a reaction to the sight of European writing, which changes what the system is likely to be and how it could be read[1].
Answers 3
History
- Barthel: barthel's glyph catalogue was built from texts carved in alternating orientation with developed ligatures, a…For: Rongorongo was invented on Rapa Nui before 1722.
- Wieczorek et al.: three of the four Rome tablets and the Berlin tablet date to the 1800s.For: Rongorongo was invented after the 1770 Spanish annexation ceremony, inspired by the sight of writing.
- Ferrara et al. puts forward: rongorongo was invented on Rapa Nui before 1722.
- Ferrara et al. puts forward: rongorongo was invented after the 1770 Spanish annexation ceremony, inspired by the sight of writing.
- Ferrara et al.: one of four Rome tablets gives a secure radiocarbon date of 1493 to 1509 cal AD.For: Rongorongo was invented on Rapa Nui before 1722.
- Ferrara et al.: the single pre-contact date is on wood of a non-native species, consistent with driftwood carved later.For: Rongorongo was invented after the 1770 Spanish annexation ceremony, inspired by the sight of writing.
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