Irulegi: beyond hand, thanks to hand
- Irulegi, about 2,100 years ago. After the Iron Age village was attacked and burned, it was abandoned by its inhabitants at the age of 1,100. From this last time it is the well-known hand that was published in last year’s campaign and the discovery has significantly influenced the field research.
Thanks to the hand, visitors have increased considerably in Irulegi: Since then, they have contracted over 2,000 guided tours and received more public subsidies. Thus, the campaign that lasted the first and a half months has been extended for three months this summer. And as a result they have achieved excellent results.
This campaign has determined the time it was populated, from 3,200 years to about 2,100 years ago. In addition to the two homes excavated so far, a third party has been investigated and, among other things, a seven-step staircase has been found in the Western Pyrenees.
One of the main conclusions of the campaign was that the Romanization process of the Vascones was not as abrupt and violent as it was believed, but was progressive and complex. Mattin Aiestaran, director of the Aranzadi excavation, said that “we see that these vascones knew about the Romans. You have seen the Mediterranean and try to bring it here. They try to adapt to the future Roman Empire, but without losing their peculiarities.” The structures investigated this year show that the Vascones tried to mimic Roman constructive techniques, “they did not do well, they lacked methodology”.
75 fire arrows have been found and it has become clear that the village was attacked and burned to the misery of the population and the happiness of archaeologists. Because objects have been kept in perfect condition under the remains of straw covers and burnt adobe walls. They have found over 2,000 objects: ceramic remains, glass beads, horse ribbons, weapons… All of them indicate the strategic importance of Irulegi. They controlled the roads between the Ebro valley, the Cantabrian coast, Aquitaine and Gaul. The village was the main axis of the area, and imported objects, such as the Adriatic amphora they have discovered, show a relationship with the countries outside, which means they brought wine from Italy.
Aiestaran says we only started to meet Irulegi. This year’s campaign has opened new lines of research. Irulegi is going to give us a lot more of the hand.
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