The Rongorongo script of Easter Island was discovered in the late nineteenth century. The script consists of about 120 symbols, mainly the representations of birds, fish, gods, plants and a variety of geometric shapes, carved in stones and wood. Another 480 glyphs are a variant of these 120. Some symbols that represent dates and genallogical information have been identified. Many attempts have been made to decipher the script, but none were successful. The name Rongorongo means ‘to recite, to declaim, to chant out’ in Rapa Nui, the native language of Easter Island. The script was used until the 1860s, after which it was lost.
Rongorongo
