Lepontic language

Spoken in

Indo-European languages

• Lepontic

-

Cel ( other Celtic languages ​​)

Xlp

The lepontische language (rarely Keltoligurisch ) is an extinct mainland Celtic language. It was spoken in Northern Italy in the foothills of the Alps, in the area of ​​Lake Maggiore, Lake of Lugano, Lake Como and to the Po Valley. Main settlement area of ​​the Lepontier was the area around the Lake Lugano ( Golasecca culture since the 13th century BC). It belongs to the pre-Roman languages ​​of Italy and that of the mainland Celtic languages ​​, apply their certificates as the earliest extant.

Some inscriptions were dated to the 6th century BC. The language is very similar to the findings after the Gallic, which was spoken in the Italian Alpine foothills ( Galli Cisalpini ), and documented by the alphabet of Lugano, derived from the Etruscan script. About 70 inscriptions are known. Longer are rare, such as the stone of Prestino near Como. In 4 / 3 Century BC, the Lepontische was supplanted by the Gallic.