PARCO ARCHEOLOGICO MONTE SIRAI

The Archaeological Park of Monte Sirai is an essential testimony to the Phoenician occupation of Sardinia. The first traces found on this vast site date back to the Neolithic period. But it was the Phoenicians who made it an important urban centre around 730 BC. The remains suggest a city of considerable dimensions. The houses consisted of 4 blocks arranged around a central courtyard. Raised floors, plastered walls and canals make it possible to appreciate the technical advances of this civilization. Some of the structures, such as the temple of Astarté, were erected from stones taken from Nuraghic constructions. Traces of destruction bear witness to Carthaginian incursions in the 6th century BC. This was followed by a phase of recession with the abandonment of many residential areas. In the 4th century BC, the fortifications were reinforced and the tophet where sacrificial rituals took place was erected. There is evidence of new residential development in the first half of the 3rd century BC. It seems that the site was abandoned precipitously around 110 BC. The artefacts found dating from this period are all large. On the other hand, there is no trace of small objects from everyday life. It is possible that the plateau was occupied sporadically after this period. A coin dating from the 4th century has been found near the tophet.