Sordones

The Sordones were an ancient Iberian people inhabiting the area of present-day Roussillon in Southern France and parts of Catalonia in Spain. They occupied the coastal plains and the foothills of the Pyrenees, roughly corresponding to the Roman province of Gallia Narbonensis.

The Sordones are mentioned by classical authors such as Ptolemy and Pliny the Elder. Their territory was centered around the town of Ruscino (present-day Château-Roussillon near Perpignan), which served as their principal settlement and likely their capital. Ruscino was an important trading center in antiquity.

Culturally, the Sordones were influenced by both Iberian and Gallic traditions. Their language is believed to have been related to other Iberian languages, although limited linguistic evidence survives. They engaged in agriculture, animal husbandry, and trade.

The Sordones were gradually integrated into the Roman Empire following the Roman conquest of the region in the 2nd century BCE. They became Roman citizens, and their territory was incorporated into the province of Gallia Narbonensis. The name "Roussillon" is believed to derive from "Ruscino", reflecting the enduring legacy of the Sordones in the region. Little is known about their specific interactions with Rome beyond the general integration process.