The Enigmatic Bronze Hand

For several years, the bronze hand has captured the attention of researchers. Within a year of its unearthing, scientists recognized its potential significance. It became clear that this amulet might hold the key to unraveling one of Europe's most profound linguistic conundrums: the origin of the Basque language, which has long been deemed genetically unclassified.

Researchers are confident that it is not an Indo-European language, often considering it an isolated linguistic entity. Speculation has arisen regarding its possible connections to Kartvelian or Caucasian languages, and it has also been categorized into speculative families like Vasconic or Dene-Caucasian.

On February 20th, an article focused on the Irulegi artifact was published in the journal “Antiquity.” The researchers posited that the inscription present on the artifact’s surface was indeed written in Basque, a language prevalent in much of Western Europe before the Indo-European languages took hold.

The Key to Understanding Basque Heritage

"Only a handful of examples of paleo-Hispanic writing have been discovered in Basque regions, specifically in modern Navarre. This scarcity has historically led to the belief that Basques were illiterate," noted researchers from the University of the Basque Country in Bilbao.

The Basque people inhabited the Iberian Peninsula prior to Roman influence. Following the Roman conquest in the 1st century AD, they occupied areas between the upper Ebro River and the Pyrenees. Modern Basques are often seen as descendants of these early inhabitants, from whom they derive their name (Vascones in Spanish is pronounced similarly to "Baskones," and the Basque Country in Spanish is País Vasco).

Historical texts from Roman writers between the 1st century BC and the 2nd century AD provide some of the earliest mentions of the Basques. Notable figures like Titus Livy, Strabo, Pliny the Elder, and Ptolemy referenced them.

"The Basques represented a cultural group from the late Iron Age that lived in the western Pyrenees, mainly in what is now Navarre. Information about communities from this period remains limited," emphasized Basque scholars.

One Significant Word from the Inscription

"Knowledge of the language, writing, identity, and beliefs of these pre-Roman Basque communities is scarce. Epigraphic examples are particularly uncommon, and their accurate identification and linguistic interpretation continue to be debated," the authors stated.

Linguistic evaluations suggest that the script may denote a graphic subsystem of the paleo-Hispanic language, which is deeply rooted in contemporary Basque and represents the earliest known instance of Basque epigraphy.

"The text on this artifact, found at the entrance of a residence, is interpreted as apotropaic, meaning it serves a protective purpose against malevolent forces," the authors explained.

Researchers also propose that the words inscribed on the artifact may have ties to the modern Basque language, substantiated by the identification of a Basque word meaning "happiness" on the artifact. This discovery presents new evidence that could illuminate the origins of the language currently spoken in the Basque Country.

"The findings of the recent study further indicate that ancient Basques possessed some knowledge of writing and integrated it into their daily lives," the scholars concluded.

"The discovery of the Irulegi Hand offers a renewed opportunity to explore the history of one of Europe's most enigmatic living languages," remarked Mikel Edeso Egia from the Aranzadi Science Society, a contributor to the study. "The artifact should be viewed as a component intricately connected to the cultural environment of the Basque settlement," added Mattin Aiestaran from the University of the Basque Country, the principal author of the study.