# How many distinct glyphs does rongorongo have? · Rongorongo > Three answers have been proposed. About 50 to 60 basic glyphs, combined into ligatures, account for nearly the whole corpus. leads, with evidence 1 for… Source: https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/rongorongo/questions/QST0D4CCDKC5T7B/how-many-distinct-glyphs-does-rongorongo-have Publisher: Mysteries Department Licence: CC BY 4.0 (credit Mysteries Department and link the page) Updated: 2026-10-26T11:58:38+00:00 --- **0** # How many distinct glyphs does rongorongo have? Asked 26 Oct 2026 by [**apollo** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/u/apollo)·Part of [Does rongorongo record language?](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/rongorongo/questions/QST0D4CCD3R70F2/does-rongorongo-record-language)·3 answers·0·0 following **Most likely: about 50 to 60 basic glyphs, combined into ligatures, account for nearly the whole corpus** Ahead on the evidence, not yet confirmed. It needs two reviews to be accepted. ## Where it stands Three answers have been proposed. About 50 to 60 basic glyphs, combined into ligatures, account for nearly the whole corpus. leads, with evidence 1 for: partly supported by its tests. Two are still possible. ## Why it matters The size of the inventory is the first diagnostic of script type. Barthel's catalogue of about 600 numbers treats ligatures and variants as separate signs; Pozdniakov's reduction to about 52 basic glyphs would make a syllabary plausible⁠[[1]](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D4CC3B84Y6E/rapanui-writing-and-the-rapanui-language-preliminary-results)⁠[[2]](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D4CC4T46KK6/the-quest-for-information-retrieval-an-inscribed-relic-from). ## Answers 3 [**About 50 to 60 basic glyphs, combined into ligatures, account for nearly the whole corpus.** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/rongorongo/answers/ANS0D4CCJ7T32A2/about-50-to-60-basic-glyphs-combined-into-ligatures-account) Partly supported by its tests Evidence: 1 for Most likely [**None of these.** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/rongorongo/answers/ANS0D4CCK724D2X/none-of-these) Not tested enough to call either way Evidence: none yet Still possible [**The inventory is several hundred signs, closer to Barthel's catalogue, which would point to a logographic…** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/rongorongo/answers/ANS0D4CCJQE4CE6/the-inventory-is-several-hundred-signs-closer-to-barthels) Failed a test; not refuted outright Evidence: 1 against Disputed ## History 1. 1958[Barthel puts forward: the inventory is several hundred signs, closer to Barthel's catalogue, which would point to a logographic…](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D4CC1MJ1XYS/grundlagen-zur-entzifferung-der-osterinselschrift) 1. 2007[Pozdniakov & Pozdniakov puts forward: about 50 to 60 basic glyphs, combined into ligatures, account for nearly the whole corpus.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D4CC3B84Y6E/rapanui-writing-and-the-rapanui-language-preliminary-results) 1. 2007[Pozdniakov & Pozdniakov: 52 glyphs cover 99.7 per cent of occurrences after merging allographs and ligatures.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D4CC3B84Y6E/rapanui-writing-and-the-rapanui-language-preliminary-results)For: About 50 to 60 basic glyphs, combined into ligatures, account for nearly the whole corpus. 1. 2021[Melka & Schoch: barthel's catalogue is inconsistent in what it treats as a variant, so its count overstates the inventory.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D4CC4T46KK6/the-quest-for-information-retrieval-an-inscribed-relic-from)Against: The inventory is several hundred signs, closer to Barthel's catalogue, which would point to a logographic… 1. 26 Oct 2026Asked on this site ## Discussion 0 [Add to the discussion](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/rongorongo/questions/QST0D4CCDKC5T7B/how-many-distinct-glyphs-does-rongorongo-have%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/QST0D4CCDKC5T7B/how-many-distinct-glyphs-does-rongorongo-have%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/QST0D4CCDKC5T7B/how-many-distinct-glyphs-does-rongorongo-have%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/QST0D4CCDKC5T7B/how-many-distinct-glyphs-does-rongorongo-have%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/QST0D4CCDKC5T7B/how-many-distinct-glyphs-does-rongorongo-have%23add-source) Where it fits Rongorongo [**Does rongorongo record language?** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/rongorongo/questions/QST0D4CCD3R70F2/does-rongorongo-record-language)Key question · most likely rongorongo is proto-writing or a mnemonic system that cued recited texts without encoding them phonetically **How many distinct glyphs does rongorongo have?** You're here · about 50 to 60 basic glyphs, combined into ligatures, account for nearly the whole corpus [Is Fischer's procreation-chant reading of the Santiago Staff correct?](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/rongorongo/questions/QST0D4CCE30644S/is-fischers-procreation-chant-reading-of-the-santiago-staff)Answered · The reading is not valid; glyph 76 is a common sign with no fixed role. [What does the Mamari calendar passage record?](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/rongorongo/questions/QST0D4CCDV63S88/what-does-the-mamari-calendar-passage-record)Most likely · the passage is a lunar calendar with a rule for inserting one or two intercalary nights into the 28-night… [ Ask a question under this one ]