Iberians

Iberians, ancient people of eastern and southern Spain. The Iberian Peninsula, comprising Spain and Portugal, takes its name from them. The origin of the Iberians is still largely a matter for conjecture. Some scholars suggest that the region around the Ebro River (in ancient times the Iberus) is the most likely place of origin; others theorize that the Iberians migrated to the Iberian Peninsula from North Africa sometime before 1500 bc. The first historical references to the Iberians, made by Greek colonists settled along the Mediterranean coast of the peninsula, date from the 6th century bc. Later data, recorded mainly by the Romans, who gained possession of the peninsula as a consequence of the Second Punic War, reveal that by the 3rd century bc the Iberians had become mixed with Celtic invaders from the east, producing the so-called Celtiberians; the present-day Spanish are in part descended from these Celtiberians. (The name Iberians was also used by the Greeks for the ancient inhabitants of Georgia, in Caucasia. The two groups of people were not related, however.)

Knowledge of the Iberians of Spain has been gained mainly from cross-dating of their coins and pottery. The majority of the coins are inscribed in an alphabet partly derived from those of the Phoenicians and Greeks. Most of the characters, however, are in an older, apparently indigenous script of unknown origin. The script has been deciphered, and numerous place-names mentioned in inscriptions on coins can be read, but little more is understood at present. Iberian pottery has been uncovered in parts of France, Italy, and North Africa, brought there originally through trade and travel.

It is widely supposed that the Iberians were generally short and dark-skinned; that primarily they were agriculturalists (some were also miners and metalworkers); that quite possibly they lived in and around politically independent city-states; and that undoubtedly they possessed a sophisticated written literature. Their culture, although earlier indebted to the Carthaginians and Greeks who had colonized Spain before the Romans, had reached a high level by the time of the Roman conquest. Little of it survived the overpowering influence of Rome. The Iberian language was replaced by Latin during the six centuries of Roman rule.

Theories that attempt in some way to relate the ancient Iberians to the Basques, and the Iberian language to that of the Basques, are not supported by modern scholarship.