Taíno Language
📍Borikén (Puerto Rico)
Discover how ancient stones in Borikén may reveal a pre-colonial Taíno writing system.
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Uncovering the ancient language of Borikén
Watch as Dr. Reniel Rodríguez Ramos, Puerto Rican archaeologist, shares Borikén’s history and the significance of Father Nazario’s Stones.
Some stones have markings dating as far back as 1000 BCE - way before I was born! 😉
Exploring Father Nazario’s stones
Father Nazario’s stones suggest a unique writing system, distinct from Hebrew, Phoenician or any other writing system of the Americas. Their meaning remains a mystery, inspiring ongoing research.
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1
Analysis of the stones' markings shows at least 22 distinct symbols.
2
Horizontal lines forming rows suggest the symbols were read horizontally.
3
The type of stone used is native to southwest Puerto Rico.
This stone is just one of over 800 similar stones in Father Nazario’s collection. Imagine how much time went into carving each stone!
Symbols in Taíno art
The symbols found on the stones have also been identified on Taíno pottery and on rock formations in Borikén and other islands.
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Most Taíno ceramic vessels have abstract designs made of shapes, lines, and symbols. Some show people or animals, while others feature hands, eyes, or faces with different expressions. These artworks highlight the Taíno artists' creativity and skill.
Image credit: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York. Credit line: Various gifts and exchanges, 1982. www.metmuseum.org
La Piedra Escrita, or "The Written Rock," is a big boulder in the middle of the Río Saliente, surrounded by forests and mountains. It is 32 feet tall and 13 feet wide. The rock has ancient carvings, some showing people, animals, or abstract shapes but their meaning is still a mystery.
Image credit: “Taíno Petroglyphs, Puerto Rico” by Geoff Gallice, licensed under CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Link to image
Title: Bowl
Age: 13th-15th century
Location: Kiskéya (Dominican Republic)
Medium: Ceramic
Title: La Piedra Escrita, “The Written Rock”
Age: 600-1200 A.D.
Location: Río Saliente, Borikén (Puerto Rico)
Medium: Carvings on stone
Taíno writing today
Taíno community members have created several modern interpretations of the ancient Taíno language. This honors its linguistic roots while making broader communication possible.
Tainonaíki language
This modern language variant was created by Boríkua linguist Javier Hernández. It is a fusion of Taíno and circum-Caribbean sister languages.
Watch to learn the Taíno letters, letter sounds, and some Taíno words.
Naguaké Taíno pictographic alphabet
The Taíno language can be written using at least 4 different writing systems, including the Latin alphabet and the Naguaké Taíno Pictographic Alphabet. Inspired by the symbols on Father Nazario's Stones and ancient petroglyphs, the late Dr. Yaréy Meléndez created this pictographic alphabet in 2005.
Can you spell your name using the Naguaké alphabet?
Here’s mine: TANAMÁ
Tap the arrows to see more alphabet symbols.
Want to know more? Visit Omniglot, an online encyclopedia of writing systems & languages!
