by Dean Traylor

Created on: July 24, 2010

Of all the mysteries that surround Easter Island, one item of the Rapa Nui culture has remained an enigma. While the mysteries behind the famous statues on the island has been thoroughly studied and partially solved, Rongorongo - a collection of glyphs believed by many to be the written language of the Rapa Nui people – has remained mostly undecipherable.

Rongorongo may well be one of the most unique writing in the world. There’s no conclusive evidence to suggest that this hieroglyphic script is actually a form of writing used by the ancient Rapa Nui people. However, there’s no evidence to the contrary. If it is proven to be a written language, it will be one of a few forms of writing to be independently created in the world.

On top of being a unique written language, the ability to decipher it may lead to more discoveries to the mysteries that have surrounded one of the most remote and isolated places humans have ever occupied. It may also reveal what happened to this island's once vibrant culture.

ITS ORIGINS

In terms of languages, Rongorongo is possibly one of the youngest. No one is sure when the language started. What is known is that the language was in use in the late 18th century at about the time when Spanish explorers came to the island to colonize it (the Spanish were the second Europeans to discover the island. The Dutch discovered it in 1722).

There are two speculations of its origin. According to the islanders’ oral tradition, either Hotu Matu’a or Tu’u Iho, the legendary founders of the island, brought 67 tablets from their homeland (Fischer, 2010). However, the “homeland” they came from has remained elusive. Some speculated it was Polynesia while others pointed to South America. Either way, the tradition of a written language cannot be found in these particular areas during the pre-Columbian era. As a result, many researchers speculated Rongorongo was invented on the island.

Another speculation is that the first Spanish explorers may have had an indirect influence on the language’s development. According to the website, “Omniglot,” the people of Easter Island may have been inspired to invent Rongorongo after seeing how the written language was used by the Spanish during its occupation of the island starting in 1770.

Evidence of this is supported Rongorongo’s estimated age. Tablets found on the island with Rongorongo were dated, and found to be created sometime

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