family, modern archaeological consensus rejects the classical narrative of an Etruscan migration or flight into the Alps due to the arrival of the Gauls. Archaeological evidence demonstrates local, alpine cultural continuity dating back at least to the Bronze Age, showing that the Rhaetians were an indigenous Alpine population rather than ethnic Etruscan refugees; the ancient account of their descent is instead considered an erudite reconstruction triggered by the recognition of their linguistic similarities.

In 2004, L. Bouke van der Meer