Research Report

The Rock of the Dead: new 'Latin' or 'Iberian-Guanche' Inscriptions found in Tenerife (Canary Islands, Spain)

Bibliographic Data

ID2640933
AuthorsAntonio Arnaiz‐villena (0000-0002-4268-7520, Universidad Complutense de Madrid), Antonio Arnaiz-Villena, Adrian López-Nares, Adrián López‐Nares (Universidad Complutense de Madrid), Valentín Ruiz-Del-Valle (Universidad Complutense de Madrid), Ignacio Juárez (0000-0002-9865-3063, Universidad Complutense de Madrid), Abel Bello, Alvaro Callado (Universidad Complutense de Madrid), Juan Carlos González (0000-0001-8892-4782), Alejandro H-Sevilla (Universidad Complutense de Madrid), Gustavo Sánchez Romero (KHM-Museumsverband)
Year2019
Volume2
Issue12
Pages214
Publication date2019-11-29
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueInternational Journal of Modern Anthropology (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1737-7374 • E-ISSN: 1737-8176
PublisherAfrican Journals Online (AJOL) (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.4314/ijma.v2i12.10
OpenAlexW2993198254
LanguageEN
Citations received3
References cited10

A new panel of “Latin” or Iberian-Guanche rock inscriptions has been found in Tenerife, a transcription and translation hypotheses have been put forward based on a methodology involving semantics and phonology of Basque and ancient Iberian language (used during the 1st millennium BC in Iberia and France). Both Iberian-Guanche (at Canary Is) and Iberian (at France and Iberia) rock scripts are sometimes found together with naviform lines. These incise lineal rock scripts have been found in all Canary Islands and it supports the existence of a prehistoric Guanche common culture before Punic/Roman influence could arrive to the Archipelago and postulated Guanche incapacity to navigate is doubtful. This common writing in Canary Islands together with the finding of big rock carved (“Quesera”/Cheeseboard, Lanzarote) and other ancient calendars (Telde, Gran Canaria), cart-ruts and possible pyramids could put Canarian prehistory back much earlier. Origin of these incise linear rock scripts could be found comparing them with European Runes, Iberian, Etruscan and other Old Italian writings (Raetian, Venetian, Lepontic) and also with Sitovo and Gradeshnitsa inscriptions (Bulgaria, dated at least 5,000 years BP). Similar African scripts have also been found in Tunisia. Whether Canarian Iberian-Guanche incise lineal script is origin of any or some of the above mentioned similar scripts or vice versa is open. Finally, population genetics is not a tool to draw absolute conclusions to define origin or population relatedness (i.e.: Canarians) , if it is not used in conjunction with other Anthropology branches , like Archaeology, Language, writing systems, paleoAnatomy and other Culture traits. Keywords: Rock Scripts, Inscriptions, Canary Islands, Iberian, Guanche, Lybic, Lanzarote, Fuerteventura, Quesera, Cheeseboard, Pyramids, Berber, Africa, Punic, Roman, Western Sahara, Tunissia, Sitovo, Gradeshnitsa, Runes, Iberian, Etruscan, Venetian, Lepontic, Raetic, Lybic, The Rock of the Dead, Calendar. Gran Canaria, Tenerife, La Palma, El Hierro, La Gomera, letreros, Roca del Muerto , Basque-Iberian, Vascoiberismo

Ancient history · Archaeology · Archipelago · Geography · Peninsula · Population · Prehistory · Scripting language · Ancient Mediterranean Archaeology and History · Archaeological and Historical Studies · Demography · History · Maritime and Coastal Archaeology

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