ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

I have consulted many sources, visited many museums and digs, made many trips to find the ideal location for each scene . . . Although I’m well aware that there is a host of people I will forget to mention, I want to express my gratitude in general to countless professionals in the areas of archaeology, history, and prehistory, both for their patience and for answering my queries. My particular thanks to:

The technical team at the Museo Arquelógico Provincial de Alicante, which became my second home on weekends. Thank you for drawing me into the world of the Scythians and their fascinating culture.

The chief curator of the Museo de Prehistoria y Arqueología de Cantabria for clearing up all my doubts regarding the history of Cantabria for the past thirty thousand years, and for giving me a guided tour during which she showed me the secrets of all the exhibits.

The staff at the Centro de Interpretación of the Monte Castillo caves for allowing me access to their magical cave paintings.

The staff at the Neocueva de Altamira and the Parque de la Naturaleza de Cabárceno for their willingness to help me with everything I needed.

The archaeologists and interns at the Centro de Interpretación de Atapuerca for showing me how difficult it is to use a spear-thrower.

Lorenzo Martínez Rivas and his wife, who own the Los Lienzos Inn in Puente Viesgo, for letting me spend a few days experiencing life in an authentic indiano house built at the start of the twentieth century.

Manuel Cano Garcia, of the Departamento de Prehistoria, Arqueología, Historia Antigua, Filología Griega y Filología Latina at the Universidad de Alicante, for the detailed corrections he made to the manuscript, as well as his support and enthusiasm after his first reading of the novel.

From the moment the Spanish edition of this book, La saga de los longevos: La vieja familia , was available for purchase on the Internet, the warm reception and enthusiasm on the part of its readers was such that my list of thanks has grown in a remarkable way. Once again it is impossible to note here all those who have supported me by spreading the word about the novel and recommending it on social networks.

On a personal level, I want to thank my father, Evelio García Castaños, for giving me his bibliophile gene. His sudden death, as well as various other family losses, occurred while I was writing this novel. Perhaps understanding how ephemeral we are is what gave me the strength to finish it.

My thanks also to my mother, Marisol Sáenz de Urturi Ozaeta, my sister, Nuria, and my brother, Raúl, for taking me to London to stand at Boudicca’s feet one Halloween night. Thank you for giving me the gift of a unique day shared by my real family and my fictional family.

And to my husband, Fran Jurado Alonso, my enormous gratitude for accompanying me throughout this journey across the millennia. He has been my greatest support and the one who, from the beginning, best understood the spirit of the novel.

And finally, to my sons: Adrián for lending his name to the protagonist and for the self-assurance that only an ancient soul possesses; and Dani, because you never run out of hugs. Believe me, hijo , I’ve needed them all.