Nueva Interpretación del Bronce I de Botorrita

This article presents a new translation of Bronze I of Botorrita, reinterpreting key terms to offer a coherent reading. The hypothesis is that side A of the plaque is a decree of the senate of Contrebia, in response to a petition of which no record has been preserved. From the text, one may infer a treaty between the Iberian city of Iltukoite and the Celtiberian city of Akaina, by which the former is granted permission to carry out agricultural or livestock exploitation of a place called Sarnikio, provided that a series of rules are observed and a tribute is paid for the right to irrigate the land. The text assigns responsibilities to both parties in the enforcement of the law. On the Celtiberian side, an entity called Arestaio, identified as the executive arm or source of authority, is charged with enforcing the law, collecting taxes, and verifying measures. On the Iberian side, responsibility is assigned to the city of Tokoitos/Iltukoite—without mention of any specific institution—for the construction of buildings and roads as required, understood to be for the exploitation of Sarnikio. The relationship between the Iberian and Celtiberian civilizations implied by this text appears, in this case, to be one of mutual benefit, following an agreement reached in response to a conflict over the resources of the place called Sarnikio. A plausible location is proposed for Tokoitos (modern Oliete), Akaina (modern Alcaine), and Sarnikio, the valley lying between both settlements, currently occupied by the reservoir on the Martín River. The importance of Bronze I of Botorrita lies in the fact that it is the longest surviving text in the Celtiberian language, and its translation makes it possible to recover a chapter of Celtiberian history told by its protagonists. The present work aspires to contribute to a translation more faithful to the original.