The Antequera (Spain) Slate: an undetermined writing found in a Roman-type Villa and the need of revision of Iberia history, anthropology and archaeology

The Antequera Slate, discovered at the Roman 'Villa de la Estación' in southern Spain (100 BC–450 AD), presents a set of undetermined scripted signs that challenge existing narratives about Iberian history. These incised symbols resemble pre-Iberian-Tartessian scripts found across Iberia and North Africa, dating back thousands of years, but their origin remains unclear. While some researchers suggest they may represent an enduring autochthonous tradition, others propose a link to Visigothic or other post-Roman cultures, despite no direct evidence supporting the latter. The study argues that these findings necessitate a reevaluation of Iberian archaeology, anthropology, and history, as the Antequera Slate does not align with known Roman or later scripts. By analyzing the slate’s context and comparing it to broader archaeological records, the research highlights an unresolved enigma that defies conventional chronologies.

Arnaiz-Villena, A., Romero, M., Vaquero-Yuste, C., Ruiz-del-Valle, V., Suarez-Sanchez, C., Juarez, I., & Suarez-Trujillo, F. (2023). The Antequera (Spain) Slate: an undetermined writing found in a Roman-type Villa and the need of revision of Iberia history, anthropology and archaeology. International Journal of Modern Anthropology, 2(20), 1389–1402. https://doi.org/10.4314/ijma.v2i20.6