A fascinating discovery has been made in Spain, where a sequence of letters from an ancient alphabet was found on a slate slab unearthed at an archaeological site. This finding is closely related to the Phoenician alphabet, which had a significant impact on the development of later writing systems such as Latin, Spanish, and English. The discovery is expected to enhance researchers’ knowledge of the writing system used by a thriving pre-Roman civilization in Spain.
Joan Ferrer i Jané, a software engineer from Barcelona, stumbled upon this discovery while browsing through social media updates about an archaeological dig in southern Spain. The site, known as Casas del Turuñuelo, dates back to the 5th century B.C. and is associated with the Tartessos civilization. Tartessos was a culture that emerged from the interaction between indigenous people of the Iberian peninsula and Phoenician settlers who arrived in the region around the 10th century B.C.
The recent findings at Casas del Turuñuelo shed light on the wealth and complexity of the Tartessos civilization, which mysteriously disappeared towards the end of the 5th century B.C. The site features a large temple that was intentionally burned down and buried as part of a ceremonial ritual, preserving its contents over time.
During this year’s excavations, archaeologists discovered a square slate rock with engravings of warriors, geometric shapes, faces, and other markings. This slate was likely used as a sketching device by an artisan or apprentice. Joan Ferrer i Jané, who is also a part-time researcher in ancient languages, identified a Paleohispanic letter on the slate that resembled the capital letter “i”. Further examination revealed a total of 15 symbols and potential letters that require advanced imaging techniques for identification.
The discovery of this well-dated alphabet inscription provides valuable insights into the literacy and writing system of the Tartessos civilization. The alphabet descends from the Phoenician alphabet but shows unique variations that offer clues about the evolution of the writing system within Tartessos. By studying the layout of the symbols, researchers hope to trace the linguistic and cultural changes within the civilization.
Archaeologists at Casas del Turuñuelo, with the assistance of Joan Ferrer i Jané, plan to reexamine all the slate fragments collected during the excavation to uncover more inscriptions or perhaps find the missing fragment of the alphabet. This discovery has raised hopes of finding additional inscriptions and expanding our understanding of the ancient civilization. The collaboration between researchers and experts like Ferrer is expected to yield more significant findings in the future, contributing to our knowledge of the history and culture of Tartessos.
