Or was the language an ancient aramic? Not sure.
Yes,it was Aramaic.
It was Aramaic.
Actually, I don't quite buy that it is totally defunct. I had heard there were some very isolated comunities that still speak a derivative, I think in Syria.
You can read an English translation of the Aramaic Interlinear New Testament here:
http://www.benyosefministries.com/interlinear_aramaic_brit_chadash.htm
You'll need Adobe Acrobat reader.