Ancient Iberian Slate Plaques: Early Genealogical Records?

Tracing Ancestry in Stone: How Ancient Iberian Plaques Documented Lineage and Power

Engraved slate plaques from the Late Neolithic and Copper Age (3200–2200 BCE) Iberian Peninsula have long intrigued archaeologists. Found in tombs scattered across the region, these delicately carved, hand-sized artifacts bear geometric designs whose purpose has sparked debate for centuries. A recent study, published in the European Journal of Archaeolo…