Iturissa facts for kids
Iturissa was an ancient Roman town located in what is now north-west Spain. It was part of a Roman province called Hispania Tarraconensis. Today, this area is known as Navarre, an autonomous community in Spain.
A famous ancient writer named Ptolemy mentioned Iturissa in the second century AD. He described it as a town belonging to the Vascones, an ancient group of people who lived in that region.
What Does the Name Iturissa Mean?
The name Iturissa comes from a Basque word. The Basque language is spoken by people in parts of Spain and France. Iturissa is the Latin version of the Basque word Iturritza. This word means "source" or "spring," like a place where water comes out of the ground.
Iturissa on Ancient Maps
Iturissa was also mentioned in an old Roman travel guide called the Antonine Itinerary. This guide listed important stops along Roman roads. Iturissa was a mansio, which was like a resting place or inn for travelers.
It was located on a major Roman road called Ab Asturica Burdigalam. This road stretched from a city named Asturica Augusta (modern-day Astorga) all the way to Burdigala (modern-day Bordeaux in France).
Historians and archaeologists have tried to figure out the exact spot of Iturissa for a long time. The town was used by people between the first and fourth centuries AD. After that, it was left empty.
Finding Iturissa Today
The ancient Roman road where Iturissa was located is sometimes called the bidezarra. This means "old road" in Basque. This old path is now an abandoned bypass off the modern Camino de Santiago. The Camino de Santiago is a famous pilgrimage route that mostly follows the old Roman road.
In 2011, scientists used special X-ray photography and started digging in the area. These efforts finally confirmed that Iturissa was located near the modern community of Burguete – Auritz.
Archaeological digs are still happening at the site. Experts from the Museum of London Archaeology (MOLA) and Aranzadi, a Basque scientific group, are working together. They are continuing to uncover more about this ancient Roman town.
