New Radiocarbon Dates on the Rongorongo Script

New radiocarbon dates on Rapa Nui’s (Easter Island) Rongorongo script shed light on the mysterious origins of the undeciphered script, suggesting potential for independent invention before the arrival of European travelers. The direct radiocarbon dating of wooden tablets preserved in Rome, Italy, revealed a mid-fifteenth century date, indicating a timeline that predates external influence. This discovery adds to the island’s history and the gradual loss of traditional culture by the end of the nineteenth century.