Presentation of ʻAntiguedades célticas de la isla de Menorcaʼ, re-edition of the first book dedicated to archaeology of prehistory in Spain

Participants in the presentation.
Participants in the presentation.
Research
(08/10/2018)

This Tuesday, October 9, the Aula Magna of the Faculty of Geography and History held the presentation of the new edition of Antiguedades célticas de la isla de Menorca, the first book in Spain that was dedicated to the archaeology of prehistory. Participants in the event were the vice-rector for Doctoral Studies and Research Promotion of the UB, Xavier Roigé; the minister for Culture, Participation and Sports of the Government of the Balearic Islands, Fanny Tur; the minister for Culture and Education of the Insular Council of Menorca (CIM), Miquel Àngel Maria; the insular director of Culture and Heritage of CIM and co-author of an introductory study of the volume, Antoni Ferrer; Maria Paredes, philologist and member of the Menorca Institute of Studies, Francisco Gracia, professor of Prehistory of the University of Barcelona, and the professor of Prehistory of the UB Josep Maria Fullola, director of the International University of Menorca Illa del Rei and the Seminar on Prehistory Studies and Research of the UB.

Participants in the presentation.
Participants in the presentation.
Research
08/10/2018

This Tuesday, October 9, the Aula Magna of the Faculty of Geography and History held the presentation of the new edition of Antiguedades célticas de la isla de Menorca, the first book in Spain that was dedicated to the archaeology of prehistory. Participants in the event were the vice-rector for Doctoral Studies and Research Promotion of the UB, Xavier Roigé; the minister for Culture, Participation and Sports of the Government of the Balearic Islands, Fanny Tur; the minister for Culture and Education of the Insular Council of Menorca (CIM), Miquel Àngel Maria; the insular director of Culture and Heritage of CIM and co-author of an introductory study of the volume, Antoni Ferrer; Maria Paredes, philologist and member of the Menorca Institute of Studies, Francisco Gracia, professor of Prehistory of the University of Barcelona, and the professor of Prehistory of the UB Josep Maria Fullola, director of the International University of Menorca Illa del Rei and the Seminar on Prehistory Studies and Research of the UB.

The activity takes place after several presentations in Menorca and Palma, and will be followed by a presentation in the National Museum of Archaeology in Madrid, on October 10. The re-publication of this book is the result of the collaboration between the Insular Council of Menorca - Department of Culture and Education, the Menorca Institute for Studies and the Council of Culture, Participation and Sports of the Government of the Balearic Islands. With a detailed record of the prehistory of Menorca and its main constructions (towers, tables, artificial caves, etc.) this work turned into a bibliographic must in the talaiotic culture. The author, Joan Ramis i Ramis (1746-1819), is the most outstanding figure in the distinguished Menorca group and is considered one of the most significant precursors of the Balearic prehistoric archaeology and a relevant figure within the history of the Hispanic archaeology.

The volume contains the original text in Spanish, adapted to the current grammar rules, the full translation in English, and three introductory studies in Catalan, Spanish and English.

The authors of these studies are Miquel Àngel Casanovas, Joaquim Pons and Josefina Salord (“Antiguedades célticas de Menorca, la culminació del projecte historiogràfic de lʼil·lustrat Joan Ramis en el marc de lʼarqueologia europea”), David Javaloyas and Manuel Calvo (“Una acció val més que mil paraules. Joan Ramis i Ramis, antiquarisme i arqueologia científica a Menorca a principis del segle XIX”), and Cristina Rita, Antoni Ferrer and Joana M. Gual (“Lʼobra de Joan Ramis i Ramis i lʼestat actual de la investigació sobre la prehistòria de Menorca: allò que ha quedat i allò que no”).

This publication, which commemorates the bicentenary of the first edition, is at the same time a tribute to Joan Ramis and an update on his historiographical work, as well as an initiative to spread the singularity of the talaiotic culture in Menorca, candidate to be included in the list of the UNESCO world heritage.