Tharros

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Tharros is the name of the archaeological site in the province of Oristano on Sardinia, Italy. It lies on a peninsula that forms the northern cape of the Gulf of Oristano.

Archaeological research done in the area of Tharros has established that in the eighth century BC the town was founded by Phoenicians. On the remains of a former nuragic village on top of the hill called Su Muru Mannu they founded a tophet, an open air sacred place common for several installations of Phoenicians in the West-Mediterranean, and seen as a sign of urbanization. Excavations have shown that from the eighth century BC until the abandonment of Tharros in the 10th century AD the place has been inhabited, first by Phoenicians, then by the Punics and then under Roman domination. The town was destroyed by Saracen raiders. Certainly there has always been a strong Sardic element in the whole period.

The area is now an open air museum and still excavations are done bringing to light ever more details of the past of this town. What is to be seen is most of the period of Roman domination or early-Christianity. Amongst the interesting structures is the tophet itself, bath installations, temple foundations and a part of the area with houses and artisan workshops.

Most of the artifacts can be found in the British Museum, the Archaeological Museum at Cagliari, the Antiquarium Arborense and the Archaeological museum of the town of Cabras.

External links

[Encyclopaedia Britannica 1911:] "Tharros"

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