245:
epigraphy, ancient history, linguistics, and
Egyptology, from four countries, have made public their views favorable to their authenticity through reports, articles, books, and conference presentations. They contend that the stratigraphic dating, placing the pieces in Roman times, was correctly performed, that there are parallels of the findings in ancient times, and that the linguistic features of the Basque graffiti are compatible with known historical features of the Basque language. Linguist Joaquín Gorrochategui and epigraphist Juan Santos Yanguas, members of the Scientific Advisory Committee, have made public their arguments in support of the falsehood of the graffiti in conference proceedings, in which they contend that the graffiti show anachronistic linguistic and epigraphic features that are incompatible with an ancient date.
208:
Vitoria, along with three members of the provincial government of Álava, the director of the
Provincial Museum of Archaeology, and the director of the excavation (Eliseo Gil), and was presided by the Culture Deputy of Álava herself. Later others, although not members of the commission were consulted from Madrid, Italy and Britain. Alicia Canto, professor of classical archaeology and epigraphy at the Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, cast doubts over the capacity of such committee to elucidate the veracity of the sherd inscriptions based on linguistic grounds, as well as highlighting the contradictory positions shown by some of its members while noting that some claimed texts were "beyond salvation".
123:
that they contained inscriptions of the same ancient age as the objects in which they were engraved and that they possessed a historical and cultural value of which they were devoid.". The verdict was appealed by Gil, but the appeal was dismissed. Subsequently, Gil filed an appeal to the
Constitutional Court. In parallel to the court developments, a scholarly controversy on the authenticity of the inscriptions is taking place.
231:
In June 2020 Eliseo Gil was pronounced guilty of fraud and connivance with an external collaborator in presenting a false report. The court ruled that the pieces had been altered "by himself or through third persons with contemporary incisions to simulate that they contained inscriptions of the same
227:
The provincial government of Alava pursued legal actions against the alleged perpetrators of the supposed fraud. The sponsors of the project (Euskotren) also brought charges against the archaeological team, but the case was dismissed, and only the lawsuit filed by the provincial government of Alava
122:
In June 2020 the archaeologist who had made the claims, Eliseo Gil, was pronounced guilty of fraud and connivance with an external collaborator in presenting a false report. The court ruled that the pieces had been altered "by himself or through third persons with contemporary incisions to simulate
235:
In August 2020, a group of 14 scientists published a letter in several Basque newspapers, warning that the so-called forgery is a scientific controversy that remains unresolved, and that "scientific issues must be resolved in scientific forums, such as scientific journals and conferences, not in
244:
In disagreement with the opinions of some members of the
Scientific Advisory Committee constituted by the Provincial Government of Alava, positing that the graffiti found at Iruña-Veleia are recent forgeries or cannot be ancient, a number of scholars in different fields, including archaeology,
207:
Eventually, a committee of experts, the "Comisión Científica
Asesora" ("Scientific Advisory Committee") was constituted by the provincial government of Álava to study the findings. The committee was originally made up of nine academics, all professors of the University of the Basque Country in
157:
The late Roman city (3rd and 4th centuries) is better known. It shows signs of decay and the construction of a wall that encloses an eleven hectare area. The town survived into the 5th century after Roman power had disappeared from the region, but by the end of the century only burial plots in
219:", and demoted the chief technical official of the Archaeological Museum of Álava for her support to the authenticity of the findings. Ultimately, one of the members of the committee, Julio Núñez, became the new director of the Iruña-Veleia archaeological excavations.
232:
ancient age as the objects in which they were engraved and that they possessed a historical and cultural value of which they were devoid.". The verdict was appealed by Gil, but the appeal was dismissed. Subsequently, Gil filed an appeal to the
Constitutional Court.
31:
228:
remained in force. Eliseo Gil has repeatedly denied the accusations against him, defended the authenticity of his findings, and requested that decisive physical tests be performed on the pieces to scientifically resolve the issue.
183:
funding by the Basque regional government. In 2006, a series of sensational findings at Iruña-Veleia were announced to the press by the director of the archaeological mission. These included what would have been the oldest
1063:
Web site with a complete overview of the findings, all the informs and a lot of information about the affair. This website defends the need of more investigation about the archaeological evidence (in
English, Spanish and
923:
Gorrochategui, Joaquín (2012). "Las Armas de la
Filología: la cuestión del Vasco Antiguo y los hallazgos de Iruña-Veleia". In Lakarra Andrinua, Joseba; Gorrochategui Churruca, Joaquín; Urgell Lázaro, Blanca (eds.).
641:"La Diputación aporta al fiscal nuevas pruebas sobre el engaño de Veleia. Una empresa alemana afirma que los gráficos aportados por Cerdán para autentificar los hallazgos «son una copia» de su manual"
997:
Santos
Yanguas, Juan (January 29, 2015). "Los 'hallazgos singulares' de Iruña-Veleia: de la ilusión al fiasco". In Marco Simón, Francisco; Pina Polo, Francisco; Remesal Rodríguez, José (eds.).
1126:
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192:, which were hailed as the first evidence of written Basque. Also, it was announced the discovery of a series of inscriptions and drawings on pottery fragments, some of which refer to
927:
2nd
Conference of the Luis Michelena Chair - Koldo Mitxelena Katedraren II. Biltzarra - II Congreso de la Cátedra Luis Michelena: 4 (Cátedra Luis Michelena - Koldo Mitxelena Katedra)
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The archaeological site of Iruña-Veleia is the most important from the Roman period in the Basque Country. It was alleged to contain the oldest known texts written in the
81:. At its apogee, the city could have been inhabited by some five to ten thousand people, and apparently went through different cycles of prosperity and decline into the
1057:
blog that follows in detail the controversy surrounding the excavation (in Spanish). Most contributors believe that the investigation of the case was insufficient.
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119:. Other authors favored their genuinely ancient provenance, in agreement with the stratigraphic dating performed by the archaeologists who made the discoveries.
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140:. The houses from this period, rectangular and round with adobe walls and thatched roofs, are similar to those found at the nearby site of Atxa (Vitoria).
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The Basque language at the Middle Ages: 9th-15th centuries. In annex: From medieval Basque to ancient Basque: the inscriptions from Veleia-Iruña in Alava
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624:
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963:. Falsificaciones contemporáneas. El caso de Iruña-Veleia". In Carbonell Manils, Joan; Gimeno Pascual, Helena; Moralejo Álvarez, José Luis (eds.).
211:
At its fifth meeting on November 19, 2008, every report except that by Gil found problems with the so-called "exceptionals". The culture deputy of
1070:, blog created by epigraphist Prof. A.Mª. Canto discussing the alleged findings and the judicial research on a modern author of the inscriptions.
694:
816:
Harris, Edward; Rodríguez Colmenero, Antonio; Silgo, Luis; Satué, Alicia; Fritz, Ulrike (July 5, 2017). Euskeraren Jatorria Association (ed.).
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53:
35:
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La Langue Basque au Moyen Age: IXe-XVe siècles. En annexe: Du basque médiéval au basque antique: les inscriptions de Veleia-Iruña en Alava
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976:] (in Spanish). Servei de Publicacions de la Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain. pp. 241–261.
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436:
658:
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There was an abbey at the site at least since the 16th century whose buildings remained visible until the mid 19th century.
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Rodríguez Colmenero, Antonio; Harris, Edward C.; Gorrotxategi, Xabier; Silgo, Luis; Vega, Noé Villaverde (31 August 2020).
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Artxiker, bibliothèque numérique d'IKER, Centre de recherche sur la langue et les textes basques du CNRS, Baiona-Bayonne.
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517:"En Veleia hubo alguien muy culto y de alto 'status', que dominaba la historia egipcia y sabía escribir jeroglíficos"
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722:[The inscriptions from Iruña-Veleia: linguistic analysis of the main Basque inscriptions discovered]
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El monumento epigráfico en contextos secundarios: Procesos de reutilización, interpretación y falsificación
1067:
584:
269:
116:
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720:"Les inscriptions d'Iruña-Veleira: Analyse linguistique des principales inscriptions basques découvertes"
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334:
100:(581), since only a very small portion of the actual town has been unearthed so far by archaeologists.
463:[Two years and 3 months prison sentence for Eliseo Gil for document falsification and fraud].
491:
197:
215:, Lorena Lopez de la Calle, dubbed the case the "biggest archaeological fraud in the history of the
279:
335:
Les inscriptions de Veleia-Iruña (version entièrement revue et augmentée d'un index alphabétique).
148:
In the first half of the 1st century some of these houses were replaced by others of Roman style (
820:(in Spanish and English). ACCI (Asociación Cultural y Científica Iberoamericana). Madrid, Spain.
34:
Location of Veleia and other Roman cities in the context of ancient Basque tribes and the modern
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Iruña-Veleia: Nazioarteko Biltzarrak. Congresos Internacionales. International Congress. I – II
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Artxiker, Archive de la Recherche pour la Langue basque et les Langues typologiquement proches
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525:"Aparecen en Veleia restos de inscripciones en euskera del siglo III y de temática cristiana"
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872:[It is impossible to forge the 400 graffiti from Iruña-Veleia] (in Spanish). Gara
61:
30:
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1051:, blog that follows in detail the controversy surrounding the excavation (in Spanish)
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833:
320:
193:
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550:"Nota de la Diputada de Euskera, Cultura y Deportes, Lorena López de Lacalle Arizti"
932:
The arms of philology: the issue of ancient Basque and the findings of Iruña-Veleia
625:"La UPV-EHU, con Julio Nuñez al frente, redactará el Plan Director de Iruña-Veleia"
489:[The former director of Iruña-Veleia appeals to the Constitutional Court].
45:
236:
courts of law". This letter was signed by prominent archaeologists, among others.
88:
It has been argued (e.g. J.M.Lacarra) that the location of Iruña is actually the
1043:
572:
461:"Dos años y 3 meses de cárcel para Eliseo Gil por falsedad documental y estafa"
333:
Iglesias, Hector (2009), « Les inscriptions de Veleia-Iruña » {pdf}
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200:. Finally, it was announced the finding of the earliest representation of the
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Iruña Veleia y sus "revolucionarios" grafitos VIII: Más cerca de la autoría
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608:"La Diputación alavesa relega a Amelia Baldeón a un museo de segunda fila"
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1038:
661:[Eliseo Gil denies being the author of Iruña-Veleia's graffiti].
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49:
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Gontzal Fontaneda's web page with bibliography on the Iruña-Veleia case
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154:). This architectural romanization continued as the century advanced.
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697:[Science and the court ruling on the Iruña-Veleia case].
397:"Tres arqueólogos abandonaron Veleia tras los hallazgos de 2006"
377:
358:"Álava se querella contra los responsables del fraude de Veleia"
180:
1003:
The 'singular finds' of Iruña-Veleia: from excitement to fiasco
437:"Spanish archaeologist gets jail sentence for faking his finds"
487:"El exdirector de Iruña-Veleia recurre ante el Constitucional"
441:
902:] (in Spanish). Editorial Pamiela. Arre, Navarra, Spain.
765:
This book is an updated and extended version of the article "
682:[Iruña-Veleia and responsibility] (in Spanish). Naiz.
360:[Álava sues those responsible for the Veleia fraud].
753:] (in French). Connaissances et Savoirs. Paris, France.
115:
found to date, but later it was said that the findings were
1073:
870:"Es imposible falsificar los 400 grafitos de Iruña-Veleia"
695:"La ciencia y la sentencia sobre el caso de Iruña-Veleia"
659:"Eliseo Gil niega ser el autor de los grafitos de Veleia"
136:
The town was founded in the 8th century BC, in the Late
107:
as well as, allegedly, the oldest representation of the
27:
Roman town in Hispania (present Basque Country, Spain)
707:
Science and the court ruling on the Iruña-Veleia case
179:
The Iruña-Veleia site had been granted 3.72 million
1127:Populated places disestablished in the 5th century
1122:Populated places established in the 8th century BC
834:"First International Conference on Iruña-Veleia"
974:. Contemporary forgeries. The Iruña-Veleia case
848:"Second International Congress on Iruña-Veleia"
204:(crucifixion of Jesus) found anywhere to date.
1039:Official reports on the controversial findings
999:Fraude, mentiras y engaños en el mundo antiguo
566:
564:
562:
459:Diario de Noticias de Álava (June 10, 2020).
60:. The site is located in the municipality of
8:
1162:Bien de Interés Cultural landmarks in Álava
1076:Blog with news and opinions about the case.
894:Elexpuru, Juan Martín (December 20, 2018).
327:Volume 62 Number 5, September/October 2009.
68:. The town was an important station on the
435:Ramsay, M.; Woodyatt, A. (June 12, 2020).
705:. An English translation is available in
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478:
476:
352:
350:
52:, now located in the province of Álava,
509:"Un maestro entre el Nilo y el Zadorra"
346:
571:Elkin, Mike (September–October 2009).
77:that ran parallel to the coast of the
1132:Ancient history of the Basque Country
454:
452:
430:
428:
416:"Iruña-Veleia, culebrón arqueológico"
7:
868:Harris, Edward (November 18, 2015).
900:What's happening with Iruña-Veleia?
896:¿Qué está pasando con Iruña-Veleia?
745:Iglesias, Hector (April 22, 2016).
680:"Iruña-Veleia y la responsabilidad"
657:Carrero, M.J. (November 22, 2009).
287:for the purportedly oldest text in
1157:Indigenous ancient cities in Spain
751:The Inscriptions from Iruña-Veleia
485:El Norte Exprés (March 21, 2021).
25:
678:Gil, Eliseo (February 17, 2014).
548:López de Lacalle Arizti, Lorena.
1152:Former populated places in Spain
959:Gorrochategui, Joaquín (2011). "
767:Les inscriptions de Veleia-Iruña
85:until it was finally abandoned.
1142:Roman towns and cities in Spain
747:Les Inscriptions d'Iruña-Veleia
158:abandoned buildings are found.
378:"Veleia: disparateen zerrenda"
1:
1033:Iruña-Veleia Official website
845:; texts available online at:
700:Diario de Noticias de Navarra
96:in his campaigns against the
64:, 10 kilometers west of
513:Diario de Noticias de Álava
466:Diario de Noticias de Álava
54:Basque Autonomous Community
1183:
936:Universidad del País Vasco
783:Orpustan, Jean-Baptiste.
718:Iglesias, Hector (2012).
364:(in Spanish). 2009-03-25.
276:that ran through Veleia).
196:and even some written in
1007:Universitat de Barcelona
627:. Gara. 6 November 2009.
577:archive.archaeology.org
303:Barandiaran, Alberto,
270:Ab Asturica Burdigalam
74:ab Asturica Burdigalam
38:
319:Elkin, Mike (2009): "
240:Scholarly controversy
33:
1098:42.84222°N 2.78750°W
1009:. pp. 295–308.
1005:] (in Spanish).
934:] (in Spanish).
198:Egyptian hieroglyphs
170:Sensational findings
132:Bronze and Iron ages
1094: /
1055:En el ángulo oscuro
773:, October 21, 2009.
573:"The Veleia Affair"
280:Glosas Emilianenses
1103:42.84222; -2.78750
1049:Ieshu Ioshe Marian
938:. pp. 41–70.
530:2007-10-06 at the
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1016:978-84-475-3889-8
536:Noticias de Álava
321:The Veleia Affair
217:Iberian Peninsula
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1086:42°50′32″N
854:2022-11-24
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342:References
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