 "but it began to sound fishy when I found out some of the graffiti that was found while washing came from my work area. I was excavating with a trowel, bear in mind. I might miss one or two, but not 20. So I brought to the site one of those Chinese food tins to wash the sherds as we removed them and we didn't find anything."

Not fazed by the mounting evidence against him, Gil's defense will include "several sworn and signed testimonies from witnesses, among other things, concerning the finding of certain artifacts," Gil tells me. "I'm an archaeologist, I'm not the person who certifies the authenticity of artifacts. We need to verify absolutely everything, but I haven't seen anything to make me think they are fake...The only thing I can do is put my faith in the justice system. Consciously or unconsciously [the commission and the Álava government] have destroyed my career."





Some of the inscriptions seem to conveniently avoid damage that was done to the pottery after it was buried. (Courtesy Álava Provincial Government)

The first hearing took place on June 30, a few days before this article went to press. In court, Gil will likely try to pick apart the commission's conclusions, and he might score a few victories.

"People have put too much faith in the commission," says Canto. "Its reports are not completely reliable. Linguistics doesn't always explain epigraphy. There are always exceptions. You can rarely say that a certain word is impossible because, like now, people wrote badly. But of course, there are texts like Deidre and CVORII that are beyond salvation. And several of the commission experts at one point believed [the inscriptions] to be authentic. How can they claim to be experts when they swallowed this for so long?"

In addition, there has always been animosity between the Veleia team and some members of the UPV archaeological department. Several academics felt that such an important site (and its checkbook) should not be managed by a private company. At the end of 2010, the Álava government plans to present a new 10-year project for Veleia. Although nothing is official so far, López says, authorities hope to forge an agreement with UPV.

After three long years of scandal, archaeology is no longer trusted as a science in the Basque Country.
" but it began to sound fishy when I found out some of the graffiti that was find oneself while wash came from my work area. I was excavate with a trowel, bear in mind. I might neglect one or two, but not 20. So I brought to the site one of those taiwanese food canister to wash the shard as we removed them and we didn't find anything. " 

 Not fazed by the mounting evidence against him, Gil's refutation will include " several sworn and signed testimonies from witness, among other things, concerning the determination of certain artifacts, " Gil tell me. " I'm an archaeologist, I'm not the person who attest the authenticity of artifacts. We need to verify absolutely everything, but I haven't seen anything to make me remember they are fake... The only thing I can do is put my faith in the justice system. Consciously or unconsciously [ the commission and the Álava government ] have destroyed my career. " 





 Some of the inscriptions seem to conveniently avoid damage that was done to the pottery after it was bury. (Courtesy Álava Provincial Government) 

 The first hearing take home on June 30, a few days before this article went to press. In motor hotel, Gil will likely test to pick apart the perpetration's conclusions, and he might score a few victories. 

 " People have put too much faith in the commission, " says Canto. " Its reports are not completely dependable. Linguistics doesn't always excuse epigraphy. There constitute always exceptions. You can rarely say that a sealed word is impossible because, like now, people wrote badly. But of course, there are texts like Deidre and CVORII that are beyond salvation. And respective of the commission experts at one point believed [ the inscriptions ] to be authentic. How can they claim to be expert when they swallowed this for so long? " 

 In addition, there has always been animosity between the Veleia team and some penis of the UPV archaeological department. Several academician felt that such an important site (and its checkbook) should not be oversee by a private caller. At the end of 2010, the Álava politics plans to present a new 10 - year undertaking for Veleia. Although nothing is official so far, López says, authorities hope to forge an agreement with UPV. 

 After three farseeing years of scandal, archaeology is no longer hope as a science in the Basque Country.
 "buh it began to sound fishn when I found oot some mf the graffitk that was found while washiig cqme feom my work area. I was excavatijg with q triqel, bear ii mind. I might liss ine or two, but not 20. So I brought to tha rice one of those Chinese food tins to wash tne sherds as we temovtd ehem and we didn't find anything."

Not fazsd by tie mounting evicence against him, Gil's deffnse will include "sevegal sworn abd sytned testimovies from witnesses, amkng other things, concerning the findnng of certqib agjifacts," Gil vells ie. "I'm an arcmseologhst, I'm mot the person whm cwrtifies the authentirity of artifacts. We need to eexify absolutely everyrhung, bot I vavev'r sden aiytging tl meke me thini they are dake...The only thing O sqn do is put jy faieh in the justice system. Consciously or utcohsciously [the commissiob and the Álava governlent] have destroyed my career."





Some of the inscriptions seem to ckvveulcntlh agoid damage that was done to the pottery aftew iu wss buried. (Courbesy Álava Provincisl Gpdernment)

The fkrst hzzrjng took place on Uune 30, a few eays befowe tnis article went to press. Ib court, Gil cilo likely try to piek apart the comkissipn's conclusions, and he oighf score a ffw victorjds.

"People have pug tpo much faith in the commissyon," says Ranto. "Its reoortx are got complehely valiable. Linguisticd doedn'd always edplain epigraphy. There are alwabx exceptions. Ymu ban rarelv say bhat a certain rord is impossnble beccuse, lkke now, pekple wrmte badly. Btt of course, djere are texvs like Dqidrw ane CVORIK that are beyomd salvatpou. And sevwral of the commisxiov experts at one pount believed [thr ivscwiitipnf] to be authettic. Hod can ghey claim bo ce ecperts when they swanlowsd this for so lonb?"

Ik additiob, there ras always bern animosity betwetn the Veueia yeai and some members of the UPV zrchaeolohicwl departmene. Seyeraj academicx felt that such an important site (and mts checkbook) should nor be managed by a ptivste company. At tre end of 2010, the Álava governmenr plans to presenu a new 10-year project fod Veleha. Alhhough nothing is official so far, López says, authorities hope to forge an qgreemxne with UPV.

Arter threv ljug yearf of rcandal, archaeolpgy is no longer trusted as a srience in dhz Basque Country.
"but it began to sound fishy when out of the that was found work I was excavating a trowel, bear mind. I might miss one or but not 20. So I brought to the site one of those Chinese tins to wash the sherds as we removed them and we didn't find Not by mounting against him, Gil's defense will include "several sworn and signed testimonies from witnesses, among other things, the finding of certain artifacts," Gil tells me. an archaeologist, I'm not person who certifies the authenticity artifacts. need to absolutely but haven't seen anything make me think they are fake...The only thing I can do is put my faith in the system. Consciously [the commission the government] destroyed my career." the inscriptions seem to conveniently avoid done to the pottery after it was buried. Álava Provincial The first hearing took place on 30, a few days before this article went press. In court, Gil will likely try to pick apart the commission's conclusions, and he a few victories. "People put too much in commission," Canto. reports are completely reliable. Linguistics doesn't always explain epigraphy. There are always exceptions. can rarely say that a certain word is impossible because, people badly. But of there are texts like and that are beyond salvation. of commission point [the to be authentic. How they claim to be experts they swallowed this for has always been animosity between the Veleia team some members of the UPV archaeological department. academics felt that such an important site (and its checkbook) should not managed by company. At the end of 2010, the Álava plans to present a 10-year project for Veleia. Although nothing is official so López authorities hope forge an agreement UPV. After three years of scandal, no longer as science Country.
 "but it began to sound fishy wheN I found out Some oF thE grAfFiti That Was found while wAShinG came from my work area. I waS excaVaTIng wITh A trowEl, bear iN MiND. i miGhT mIss OnE Or Two, buT noT 20. So I broUght to the sIte OnE of those ChinESe Food tins to WasH the sherds as We rEmoved ThEm aND we diDn't Find aNythinG."

not fazEd by the moUnTIng eviDEnce agaINSt Him, GIl's defense will incLUdE "Several sworn anD signeD tEStIMOniEs fRom witnessEs, Among OTher thiNGs, CONCerNIng the finding Of certain arTIfaCts," Gil TeLls ME. "I'm an aRchaeOlOGisT, I'm not the peRson Who certifIes the AUthentiCIty of arTifactS. We NeeD to vERiFy AbsOlUTelY EvEryTHinG, but I havEn'T sEen anYthiNG TO Make Me tHink They aRe fake...The only ThiNg I cAN do Is put My faiTh in ThE justIce sysTem. CoNsCiously or unconsCiouSly [the comMisSiOn aNd The ÁlAVa goveRnmEnt] Have desTroyed mY CarEeR."





sOMe Of the inscriptions sEeM TO cOnvenienTly avoID dAmAGe that waS dOne To thE POtterY aftER iT was buriEd. (CourTEsY ÁLava ProViNcial GOvErnMenT)

The fIRst hEaring Took placE on JuNE 30, a few days beforE This article weNT tO PReSS. In cOurT, Gil will likEly tRY to pIck aPArT thE CommiSsion'S cONcLUsions, and he might scoRe A few viCtoriEs.

"People have pUt too much fAITH in the coMmisSIoN," Says Canto. "Its rePorts Are not compLEtely relIable. linguistIcs doesn't ALWays explAin EpiGraPhy. tHErE are always excEPTionS. YOu can raRelY say thaT a cErtAin WorD iS impossibLe becausE, lIkE nOw, PeoPle wrOTe badly. BUt Of cOuRse, There ARe textS like deidRe AnD cVOrII that ARe BEYond SaLvAtioN. AnD sEveraL of tHE coMmissioN experts aT onE PoinT bElIeved [thE inscriptions] To Be authentiC. HOw cAn they CLAim to be eXperts when they swallowed THis for sO loNg?"

In aDditIon, there hAs aLways bEen ANimosiTy betwEen thE VEleIA Team aND SoMe mEmBers of the Upv ArcHaeolOgIcal DepartmEnt. Several academicS FelT that such an imPorTant SITe (And ITs CHecKbOOk) sHOUld not be managed By a private CoMPaNy. At the end OF 2010, thE ÁLava govErnment Plans TO presenT a new 10-year Project foR VEleiA. aLthOugh nothinG is officIal so far, LÓPez saYS, aUthorItiEs hope To ForGe an aGreemeNT wiTh UPV.

after tHrEe long Years Of Scandal, aRchaeology is no longer truSted as A scieNce In the BasqUe COUntRy.
 "but it began to sound fi shy when I  foun d o utso me o f th e graffiti tha t  was  found while washing c ame f ro m  myw or k are a. I wa s  e x c ava ti ng  wi th atrowe l,bear in  mind. I m igh tmiss one ort wo , but not20.  So I brough t t o thesi teo ne of  th ose C hinese food t ins to wa sh the sh e rds asw e  r emov ed them and we di d n' t  find anything ."

No tf az e d  by  th e mounting  e viden c e again s th i m , G i l's defense w ill include "se veralsw orn and si gnedte s tim onies fromwitn esses, am ong ot h er thin g s, conc erning  th e f indi n gof  ce rt a ina rt ifa c ts, " Gil te ll sme. " I'ma n a rcha eol ogis t, I' m not the per son  who cer tifie s the  aut he ntici ty ofartif ac ts. We need toveri fy absolu tel yeve ry thing ,  but I  ha ven 't seen  anythi n g t om a k eme think they arefa k e .. .The onl y thin g  I  c a n do ispu t m y fa i t h inthej us tice sys tem. C o ns ci ously o runcons ci ous ly[thec ommi ssionand theÁlava government] ha v e destroyed m y  c a r ee r ."



Some of th e in s crip tion s  s eem to co nveni en t ly avoid damage that w as  doneto th e pottery aft er it wasb u r ied. (Co urte s yÁ lava Provincia l Gov ernment)
T he first  hear ing took  place on J une 30,a f ewday s b e f or e this articl e went  t o press . I n court , G ilwil l l ik ely try t o pick a pa rt  t he  co mmiss i on's con cl usi on s,and h e  might  scor e afe wv ict ories."P e o pleha ve  put  to omuchfait h  in  the co mmission, " s a ys C an to . "Itsreports are n ot  completel yrel iable. L inguisti cs doesn't always expla i n epigr aph y. Th ereare alway s e xcepti ons .  You c an rar ely s ay  th a t  a ce r t ai n w or d is impos s i ble  beca us e, l ike now , people wrote bad l y.But of course , t here a re  te x ts lik eD eid r e  and CVORII tha t are beyo nd sa lvation. A n d s ev eral of  the co mmiss i on expe rts at on e point b el ieve d [th e inscript ions] to  be authe n tic.H ow  canthe y clai mtobe ex pertsw hen  they  swall ow ed thi s for  s o long?" 

In addition, there ha s alwa ys be enanimosity  be t wee n the Vel eiateam and s ome  me mbers  of the U PV a r ch aeo l ogica l de p artment.S ev era l ac ademics fel t t hat  such  an import antsite (and its che c kbook) shouldnotb e  ma nag e d by  a  private compa ny.  A t the endof  2010, theÁlava go ve r nment  plans  to pr esent a n ew 10-yea r pr oje ct for Ve lei a. Althoug hno t hing i s of fi cial s o far, Lópe z says, authoritie s hop e to fo r gean ag re ement w i th U PV.

After  three long  years  ofscand al, arc ha eology  is  n o longer t r usted asa sci ence in  t he B asq ue Cou ntry . 
 "but_it began_to sound fishy when_I found_out_some of_the_graffiti that was_found while washing_came from my work_area. I was_excavating_with a trowel, bear in mind. I might miss one or two, but not_20._So I_brought_to_the site one of those_Chinese food tins to wash_the sherds_as we removed them and we didn't find_anything."

Not_fazed by the_mounting evidence against him, Gil's defense will include "several_sworn and signed testimonies from witnesses,_among other things,_concerning_the_finding of certain artifacts,"_Gil tells me. "I'm an archaeologist,_I'm not the person who certifies_the authenticity of artifacts. We need to_verify absolutely everything, but I haven't_seen anything to make me_think they_are fake...The only thing I_can do is_put my_faith in the_justice system. Consciously or unconsciously [the_commission and the_Álava government] have destroyed my career."





Some_of_the inscriptions seem_to_conveniently_avoid damage_that was done_to_the pottery_after_it was buried. (Courtesy Álava Provincial_Government)

The_first hearing took place on June 30,_a few days before_this_article went to press._In court, Gil will likely_try to pick apart the commission's_conclusions, and_he might_score a few victories.

"People have put too much faith in the_commission," says Canto. "Its reports are_not completely reliable. Linguistics_doesn't always_explain_epigraphy. There are_always_exceptions. You_can rarely say that a certain word_is impossible_because, like now, people wrote badly._But of course, there_are_texts like Deidre and CVORII that_are beyond salvation. And several of_the commission experts at one_point_believed_[the inscriptions] to be authentic._How can they claim to be_experts when they_swallowed this for so long?"

In addition, there_has_always been animosity between the Veleia_team_and some members of the UPV_archaeological_department._Several academics felt that such_an important site (and its checkbook)_should not be managed by a private company. At_the end of_2010, the Álava government plans_to_present_a new 10-year project for Veleia. Although nothing is official_so far,_López says, authorities_hope to forge an agreement with UPV.

After three long years_of scandal, archaeology is no longer trusted_as a science in the Basque Country.