After watching the recent JRE episode featuring Graham (appreciate the great plethora of information!) and hearing Rogan/Hancock discuss the implications of AI on archaeological findings and discoveries, I had an immediate urge to frame this to Chat GPT. Here is the prompt and response. Interested to hear everyone’s, including Graham’s, thoughts on the response.
Prompt: (attached close up image of Rongorongo tablet for ChatGPT) Make an attempt to decipher it based on patters you recognize and potential similarities to known images or objects. This is an informed speculative exercise.
Response:
Engaging in a speculative attempt to decipher the Rongo Rongo script based on known visual patterns, potential cultural links, and symbolic iconography from Polynesian traditions can be a fascinating exercise. Here’s how I might approach it, keeping in mind that this will remain an educated guess since no true translation has yet been achieved.
Visual Symbol Analysis:
Looking at the image you provided, we can attempt to break down some recurring elements or patterns that may relate to known objects or figures from Polynesian and Rapa Nui cultures:
1. Humanoid Figures: Some of the glyphs clearly resemble human-like figures. These could represent individuals, ancestors, or deities, as ancestor worship was central to Rapa Nui religion. In Polynesian traditions, genealogy was incredibly important, so these figures might symbolize the names or stories of prominent clan members.
2. Birdman Motif: Some of the glyphs resemble bird shapes, which may be tied to the “Tangata Manu” (Birdman) cult that rose in prominence in later Rapa Nui history. The Birdman figure is an important cultural symbol, and it’s possible these glyphs relate to rituals surrounding this figure.
3. Repetitive Geometric Symbols: Some characters are abstract or geometric, like repeating curves or spirals. These might represent natural cycles (seasons, celestial bodies) or even navigation-related concepts, given the Polynesians’ mastery of ocean navigation. Spirals, for instance, are often associated with life cycles or continuity in many indigenous cultures.
4. Fish-like and Ocean Symbols: Several glyphs seem to resemble fish or sea creatures, which aligns with the heavy reliance of Rapa Nui culture on fishing and the sea. These might be symbolic references to sustenance, fertility, or travel—considering how vital the ocean was to survival on such a remote island.
Patterns and Repetition:
When analyzing any undeciphered script, repetition is key to unlocking meaning:
• Repeating symbols: Some symbols appear multiple times across the tablet, often grouped or paired with others. This could hint at linguistic markers such as verb conjugation, sentence structures, or names. Repetition in other ancient scripts often correlates with functional words like “and” or “the,” or they could be used in ceremonial phrases like prayers or mantras.
• Alternating glyph types: You might notice that humanoid symbols are followed by abstract shapes. This could indicate a noun-verb relationship, where the figure represents a deity or person and the following glyph describes an action or attribute.
Comparison to Known Polynesian Symbolism:
• Cultural motifs: In Polynesian culture, each island group developed symbolic systems to represent life, nature, and spirituality. For instance, turtles, waves, and birds are common motifs in Polynesian tattoos and art, representing longevity, the sea, and spirituality, respectively. Similar symbols in Rongo Rongo may have parallel meanings, reflecting island life.
• Ritual and mythological connections: Given Rapa Nui’s sacred connection to its statues (moai) and its oral history tradition, the glyphs may tell stories of creation, migration, or important mythological events—similar to other Polynesian oral traditions where history and mythology were intertwined.
Hypothetical Interpretation:
Using these patterns, let’s attempt a speculative narrative:
• Humanoid figure + abstract symbol: This pairing could represent a key figure (ancestor, deity) and an associated action or attribute. For example, if a humanoid glyph is followed by a crescent or arc-like symbol, it could signify an event tied to that figure—perhaps a journey or a celestial event (eclipse, moon phase).
• Bird glyphs in sequence: If a row of bird-like symbols appears, this could relate to the Tangata Manu (Birdman) ritual, and the tablet might record a specific year’s competition or participants. Alternatively, bird symbols could represent the migration of peoples or the sending of messengers (a common Polynesian motif).
• Fish and waves: If you notice these, they could correspond to navigation, fishing ceremonies, or oceanic deities. Given Rapa Nui’s isolation, the sea was likely a key focus of religious ceremonies and survival efforts.
Plausible Example:
Let’s say a certain sequence begins with a humanoid figure followed by fish and wave symbols, and it repeats. We might hypothesize that this is part of a ceremonial chant or prayer invoking blessings for a safe fishing season, with the humanoid representing a specific deity or leader overseeing the ritual.
Conclusion:
Without a full translation key, any attempt to decipher Rongo Rongo remains hypothetical. However, by drawing on the Rapa Nui’s cultural heritage and Polynesian symbolism, it’s possible to suggest that the glyphs represent key components of life on the island—figures of authority, natural cycles, important rituals, and the sea. This speculative interpretation suggests the tablet might serve as a mnemonic device, a ceremonial artifact, or a way to record genealogies or important events.
It’s important to remain cautious with any such attempt, but using patterns, repetition, and cultural context gives us a glimpse into how these ancient islanders might have encoded their world.
Prompt: (attached close up image of Rongorongo tablet for ChatGPT) Make an attempt to decipher it based on patters you recognize and potential similarities to known images or objects. This is an informed speculative exercise.
Response:
Engaging in a speculative attempt to decipher the Rongo Rongo script based on known visual patterns, potential cultural links, and symbolic iconography from Polynesian traditions can be a fascinating exercise. Here’s how I might approach it, keeping in mind that this will remain an educated guess since no true translation has yet been achieved.
Visual Symbol Analysis:
Looking at the image you provided, we can attempt to break down some recurring elements or patterns that may relate to known objects or figures from Polynesian and Rapa Nui cultures:
1. Humanoid Figures: Some of the glyphs clearly resemble human-like figures. These could represent individuals, ancestors, or deities, as ancestor worship was central to Rapa Nui religion. In Polynesian traditions, genealogy was incredibly important, so these figures might symbolize the names or stories of prominent clan members.
2. Birdman Motif: Some of the glyphs resemble bird shapes, which may be tied to the “Tangata Manu” (Birdman) cult that rose in prominence in later Rapa Nui history. The Birdman figure is an important cultural symbol, and it’s possible these glyphs relate to rituals surrounding this figure.
3. Repetitive Geometric Symbols: Some characters are abstract or geometric, like repeating curves or spirals. These might represent natural cycles (seasons, celestial bodies) or even navigation-related concepts, given the Polynesians’ mastery of ocean navigation. Spirals, for instance, are often associated with life cycles or continuity in many indigenous cultures.
4. Fish-like and Ocean Symbols: Several glyphs seem to resemble fish or sea creatures, which aligns with the heavy reliance of Rapa Nui culture on fishing and the sea. These might be symbolic references to sustenance, fertility, or travel—considering how vital the ocean was to survival on such a remote island.
Patterns and Repetition:
When analyzing any undeciphered script, repetition is key to unlocking meaning:
• Repeating symbols: Some symbols appear multiple times across the tablet, often grouped or paired with others. This could hint at linguistic markers such as verb conjugation, sentence structures, or names. Repetition in other ancient scripts often correlates with functional words like “and” or “the,” or they could be used in ceremonial phrases like prayers or mantras.
• Alternating glyph types: You might notice that humanoid symbols are followed by abstract shapes. This could indicate a noun-verb relationship, where the figure represents a deity or person and the following glyph describes an action or attribute.
Comparison to Known Polynesian Symbolism:
• Cultural motifs: In Polynesian culture, each island group developed symbolic systems to represent life, nature, and spirituality. For instance, turtles, waves, and birds are common motifs in Polynesian tattoos and art, representing longevity, the sea, and spirituality, respectively. Similar symbols in Rongo Rongo may have parallel meanings, reflecting island life.
• Ritual and mythological connections: Given Rapa Nui’s sacred connection to its statues (moai) and its oral history tradition, the glyphs may tell stories of creation, migration, or important mythological events—similar to other Polynesian oral traditions where history and mythology were intertwined.
Hypothetical Interpretation:
Using these patterns, let’s attempt a speculative narrative:
• Humanoid figure + abstract symbol: This pairing could represent a key figure (ancestor, deity) and an associated action or attribute. For example, if a humanoid glyph is followed by a crescent or arc-like symbol, it could signify an event tied to that figure—perhaps a journey or a celestial event (eclipse, moon phase).
• Bird glyphs in sequence: If a row of bird-like symbols appears, this could relate to the Tangata Manu (Birdman) ritual, and the tablet might record a specific year’s competition or participants. Alternatively, bird symbols could represent the migration of peoples or the sending of messengers (a common Polynesian motif).
• Fish and waves: If you notice these, they could correspond to navigation, fishing ceremonies, or oceanic deities. Given Rapa Nui’s isolation, the sea was likely a key focus of religious ceremonies and survival efforts.
Plausible Example:
Let’s say a certain sequence begins with a humanoid figure followed by fish and wave symbols, and it repeats. We might hypothesize that this is part of a ceremonial chant or prayer invoking blessings for a safe fishing season, with the humanoid representing a specific deity or leader overseeing the ritual.
Conclusion:
Without a full translation key, any attempt to decipher Rongo Rongo remains hypothetical. However, by drawing on the Rapa Nui’s cultural heritage and Polynesian symbolism, it’s possible to suggest that the glyphs represent key components of life on the island—figures of authority, natural cycles, important rituals, and the sea. This speculative interpretation suggests the tablet might serve as a mnemonic device, a ceremonial artifact, or a way to record genealogies or important events.
It’s important to remain cautious with any such attempt, but using patterns, repetition, and cultural context gives us a glimpse into how these ancient islanders might have encoded their world.