Alphabet That Unearthed is Ancient: A Twitter Discovery!

A groundbreaking discovery involving the alphabet has emerged through an unconventional avenue — a social media (Twitter) scroll.

The find, inscribed on a slate slab unearthed in Spain, is closely tied to the Phoenician alphabet, which profoundly influenced subsequent writing systems like Latin, Spanish, and English. Experts anticipate this revelation will enhance understanding of the ancient writing system used by a prosperous pre-Roman civilization. Previously, only fragmented or poorly dated examples had been unearthed. The Spanish National Research Council revealed the discovery in a recent announcement.

Earlier this month, Joan Ferrer i Jané, a software engineer in Barcelona, stumbled upon updates on X (formerly Twitter) detailing an archaeological excavation at Casas del Turuñuelo in southern Spain. Dating back to the 5th century B.C., the site is linked to Tartessos, a civilization that emerged from cultural interactions between indigenous Iberian populations and Phoenician settlers around the 10th century B.C. Ancient Greek texts mention Tartessos as a city, but recent findings suggest it was a complex culture characterized by substantial material wealth, including iron, silver, and gold found abundantly in the region. This civilization mysteriously declined by the end of the 5th century B.C.

Excavations at El Turuñuelo, first initiated in 2015, have unveiled a significant find involving the ancient alphabet. The site features a large temple believed to have been intentionally burned and buried in a ceremonial act, its preservation aided by the clay used for burial.

During this year’s excavations, archaeologists discovered a square slate engraved with depictions of warriors, alongside geometric shapes, faces, and other markings. Esther Rodríguez González, codirector of the Archaeological Institute of Mérida in Spain, suggests the slate served as a sketching tool for an artisan or apprentice.

A recent press release on June 6 and subsequent social media (Twitter) updates from the research team highlighted the warrior engravings. However, Joan Ferrer i Jané, also a part-time researcher in ancient languages at the University of Barcelona, noticed a significant detail.

Upon examining the slate, Ferrer immediately recognized the Paleohispanic version of the capital letter “i” amidst the engravings. He contacted the archaeologists, who provided him with high-resolution images. Ferrer identified a total of 15 symbols and indications of more letters that may require advanced imaging techniques for further identification. The lower portion of the tablet, potentially containing additional characters, remains missing. Ferrer speculates that the slate originally bore up to 32 symbols.

Rodríguez González commended Ferrer’s keen observation skills, noting how he spotted symbols that her team had initially overlooked, despite their being upside down in the online images. Impressed by his contribution, Ferrer has been invited to collaborate on further studies of the discovered symbols.

In the region believed to have once been part of Tartessos, only two inscriptions of the alphabet have previously been found: one with 27 symbols, poorly dated, and another with only a few symbols preserved.

This newly discovered and well-dated example offers a clearer understanding of the Tartessian writing system. José Ángel Zamora López, an expert at the Institute of Mediterranean and Near Eastern Languages and Cultures in Madrid, emphasizes that it confirms literacy among the inhabitants of El Turuñuelo in the 5th century B.C. This finding is crucial for tracing linguistic and cultural evolution within Tartessos. Researchers are investigating whether this writing system was uniform across Tartessian territory or if regional variations existed. Derived from the Phoenician 22-letter alphabet, this script exhibits unique adaptations that shed light on its development from earlier forms.

Zamora López explains that because different sounds and new symbols were typically added at the end of the alphabet, the missing piece of the slate slab could provide valuable insights. He adds, “If you add that we don’t have that many in this area, a third abecedary allows us to calibrate the other two”

With Ferrer’s assistance, archaeologists at El Turuñuelo plan to reevaluate all collected slate fragments in hopes of discovering additional inscriptions or locating the missing portion of the alphabet. Ferrer expressed confidence that more inscriptions would be discovered, emphasizing his expectation based on the recent finding.

1. ^{ONLINE NEWS} Barbuzano, J. (2024, June 24). A lost civilization’s partial alphabet was discovered in a social media post. Science News. [Science News]
2. ^JOURNAL CSIC. (2024, June 11). El CSIC investiga un abecedario hallado en la tablilla de pizarra del yacimiento de Casas del Turuñuelo. CSIC. [CSIC]
3. ^JOURNAL CSIC. (2024, June 6). Investigadores del CSIC hallan escenas de guerreros de los siglos VI-V a.C. grabadas en una placa de pizarra en el yacimiento tartésico de Casas del Turuñuelo. CSIC. [CSIC]