malthar76 t1_ixh2bm7 wrote on November 23, 2022 at 11:44 AM

Reply to comment by Oksamis in Researchers in Galicia open 15th-century tomb to test Columbus link theory. Explorer is generally believed to have been born in Italy in 1451 but some argue he was in fact born in Spain by ArtOak

Not an expert, but I believe there are tests that look for certain proportions of isotopes found in food and water unique to local population from a specific era.

artaig t1_ixh3mag wrote on November 23, 2022 at 11:59 AM

This is tricky, as Columbus was indeed in Galicia for a time. What they try to link (proove) is Columbus parentage with an attested Columbus (Colón) family that lived for a time (since recorded at least) in a particular area of Galicia.

The start of this trend of "Columbus was Galician" stem from his writings, in alleged Galician. I myself think it's in reality "(Mediterranean) Lingua Franca", a sort of common words and grammar from all Romance languages mostly spoken by sailors. Galician, with extremely conservative Latin elements, may be considered the closest one.

TywinDeVillena t1_ixh9ac4 wrote on November 23, 2022 at 12:59 PM

Columbus, like any good sailor or merchant at that day and age, could communicate in every language, but didn't speak any language well. Though there is no proof, it is a perfectly safe guess to assume he was fairly acquainted with "sabir".

DaddyCatALSO t1_ixknrrr wrote on November 24, 2022 at 3:51 AM

I can imagine that auxiliary goe s back that far and farther

Punaholic t1_ixhyivi wrote on November 23, 2022 at 4:08 PM

I have been to the cathedral where Columbus in entombed, if memory serves, one of his relatives - I think maybe his father is also entombed there. The tour guide indicated to us that prior genetic testing had confirmed the family linkage. So, a less historical tomb is also available for confirmational genetic testing.