# Did rongorongo exist before European contact in 1722? · Rongorongo > 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… Source: https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/rongorongo/questions/QST0D4CCDBJ4KJW/did-rongorongo-exist-before-european-contact-in-1722 Publisher: Mysteries Department Licence: CC BY 4.0 (credit Mysteries Department and link the page) Updated: 2026-10-26T11:58:38+00:00 --- **0** # Did rongorongo exist before European contact in 1722? Asked 26 Oct 2026 by [**apollo** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/u/apollo)·3 answers·0·0 following **Most likely: rongorongo was invented on Rapa Nui before 1722** Ahead 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]](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D8MQWEW6RB2/the-invention-of-writing-on-rapa-nui-easter-island-new). ## Answers 3 [**Rongorongo was invented on Rapa Nui before 1722.** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/rongorongo/answers/ANS0D4CCGH40QH4/rongorongo-was-invented-on-rapa-nui-before-1722) Partly supported by its tests Evidence: 2 for Most likely [**None of these.** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/rongorongo/answers/ANS0D4CCJ000ZM1/none-of-these) Not tested enough to call either way Evidence: none yet Still possible [**Rongorongo was invented after the 1770 Spanish annexation ceremony, inspired by the sight of writing.** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/rongorongo/answers/ANS0D4CCH8J4VA8/rongorongo-was-invented-after-the-1770-spanish-annexation) Not tested enough to call either way Evidence: 2 for Still possible ## History 1. 1958[Barthel: barthel's glyph catalogue was built from texts carved in alternating orientation with developed ligatures, a…](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D4CC1MJ1XYS/grundlagen-zur-entzifferung-der-osterinselschrift)For: Rongorongo was invented on Rapa Nui before 1722. 1. 2023[Wieczorek et al.: three of the four Rome tablets and the Berlin tablet date to the 1800s.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D4CC4AG0T1J/the-rongorongo-tablet-from-berlin-and-the-time-depth-of)For: Rongorongo was invented after the 1770 Spanish annexation ceremony, inspired by the sight of writing. 1. 2024[Ferrara et al. puts forward: rongorongo was invented on Rapa Nui before 1722.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D8MQWEW6RB2/the-invention-of-writing-on-rapa-nui-easter-island-new) 1. 2024[Ferrara et al. puts forward: rongorongo was invented after the 1770 Spanish annexation ceremony, inspired by the sight of writing.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D8MQWEW6RB2/the-invention-of-writing-on-rapa-nui-easter-island-new) 1. 2024[Ferrara et al.: one of four Rome tablets gives a secure radiocarbon date of 1493 to 1509 cal AD.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D8MQWEW6RB2/the-invention-of-writing-on-rapa-nui-easter-island-new)For: Rongorongo was invented on Rapa Nui before 1722. 1. 2024[Ferrara et al.: the single pre-contact date is on wood of a non-native species, consistent with driftwood carved later.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D8MQWEW6RB2/the-invention-of-writing-on-rapa-nui-easter-island-new)For: Rongorongo was invented after the 1770 Spanish annexation ceremony, inspired by the sight of writing. 1. 26 Oct 2026Asked on this site ## Discussion 0 [Add to the discussion](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/rongorongo/questions/QST0D4CCDBJ4KJW/did-rongorongo-exist-before-european-contact-in-1722%23discussion) Help with this question [ **Propose an answer** Something the evidence could support or rule out ] [ **Propose an answer** Something the evidence could support or rule out ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/rongorongo/questions/QST0D4CCDBJ4KJW/did-rongorongo-exist-before-european-contact-in-1722%23add-answer) [ **Add evidence** A result for or against an answer ] [ **Add evidence** A result for or against an answer ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/rongorongo/questions/QST0D4CCDBJ4KJW/did-rongorongo-exist-before-european-contact-in-1722%23add-evidence) [ **Ask a sub-question** A smaller question that would help settle this one ] [ **Ask a sub-question** A smaller question that would help settle this one ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/rongorongo/questions/QST0D4CCDBJ4KJW/did-rongorongo-exist-before-european-contact-in-1722%23add-question) [ **Add a source** A paper, archive record or image ] [ **Add a source** A paper, archive record or image ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/rongorongo/questions/QST0D4CCDBJ4KJW/did-rongorongo-exist-before-european-contact-in-1722%23add-source) Where it fits Rongorongo **Did rongorongo exist before European contact in 1722?** Key question · you're here [ Ask a question under this one ]