Treasures from Barcelona’sMuseu d'Arqueologia de Catalunya

• This sample of Iberian writing from the Greek ruins of Empúries is similar to my favorite example from Ullastret.

• The Iberians and the Greeks were regular trading partners.

• The museum reproduces the earliest inscription yet found in the Iberian alphabet. Like the Rosetta Stone, it is famous enough to have its own name: the “Signari d’Espanca.”

• On top we see the inscription itself. Below we see the letters more clearly.

• The inscription consists of the 27 letters of the Iberian alphabet, chiseled or scratched in alphabetical order -- twice. This was clearly done as a writing exercise.

This beautiful mosaic came from a Roman villa in El Masnou,

on the Mediterranean coastline northeast of

Barcelona.

A horn-shaped ritual headdress

• The only thing missing from the museum is a gift shop.

• I would love to have a copy of one of these necklaces!

• These are pages from the research journal kept by the archaeologist who discovered the statue of Asklepíeion, the Greek god of medicine, at Empúries.

• Can you imagine how excited he (or she) was?

• This adorable Greek ceramic dolphin dates from the fourth century BCE.

• It was found in a necropolis on Ibiza.

• More information here.

Some awesome Iberian objects(click each for more info)

Gilded silver platter with wolf’s head Ceramic vase

The Visigoth “Tresor de Torredonjimeno”

• The dangling letters (six of which are shown here) form the names of two saints: Iuste and Rufine.

• More info on museum website.

The obligatory plug for my book• Use order code PQ101 for a 35% discount on

Bloomsbury.com (here’s a link)• Also on Amazon.com• Check out the rave reviews on either site!