Burt McCurdy, age 14, of Providence, R.I., for his question:

WHERE IS IBERIA?

Iberia is the ancient name of the peninsula occupied today by Spain and Portugal. The term Iberia is still sometimes used in literature and geographers often refer to the Iberian Peninsula.

The Iberians were one of the oldest European peoples. They probably came from Africa during prehistoric times.

Iberians had swarthy skins and were not very tall. The Basques, who now live in northern Spain, are thought to be direct descendants of the Iberians. The language of the Basques today still contains some Iberian words.

Many other peoples living in Italy, Spain and Portugal are descended from the Iberians. Other descendants of the race are found as far north as Scotland and Ireland.

The Iberians were first mentioned in the 6th century B.C., when they settled in Eastern Spain and the Ebro Valley. The high point of their civilization was reached about the 4th century B.C. Thereafter their culture came under the influence of Carthaginian colonization.