This is interesting: Basque may be even older than heretofore supposed.

Basque, as you’ve heard, is that language between Spain and France that is completely unrelated to any European language. It’s got an ergative-absolutive case system (in common with some Australian languages) and very unusual inflection and subject-verb agreement. It’s also been the subject of some bizarre pseudo-linguistic speculation, including that it’s related to Ainu in Japan, and that it’s the language Adam spoke.

Anyway, there’s been a discovery that pushes Basque back about eight centuries.

Archaeologists have unearthed inscriptions in the Basque language that could date from as early as the third century, a find Basque linguists hailed as extraordinarily important.

Basque, or euskera to its speakers, is considered to be one of the oldest languages in Europe and scholars have long wondered whether it is derived from African, Caucasian or Etruscan tongues, or if it developed in isolation.

More:

If the ages of these writings were confirmed, that would cause a revolution in the theories of the origins of the Basque language, and will move its birthplace to Alava.

Furthermore, some of the legible writings in Basque refer to Christian themes, which would strengthen the hypothesis that there existed Christian communities in the Basque Country earlier than historians thought.

That’s if they’re for real. I find it very strange that 3rd century Christianity would match modern Christianity to such an extent. Check out the Calvary scene. Doesn’t that look kind of… modern? What’s with the RIP? But I’m not an archaeologist.