Il Mediterraneo centrale tra Cartagine e Roma: la crisi e il tramonto della koinè punica alla luce delle fonti storiche e archeologiche. Società, cultura, economia in Sardegna ai tempi delle guerre puniche (III-II sec. a.C.) con focus sui siti di Sant’Antioco, Monte Sirai e Villasimius

Insinna, Ernesto Amedeo

The examination of historical and archaeological sources has made it possible to analyze the impact of the “Punic crisis” and of the cultural and economic developments in the central Mediterranean in 3rd-2nd c. BC, a period marked by the Roman-Carthaginian wars and the expansion of Rome. The main focus of the research is Sardinia and the case studies of Sant'Antioco, Monte Sirai and Villasimius. The thesis outlines the historical events that affected the central Mediterranean, starting from the relations highlighted by the Roman-Carthaginian treaties, through to the conflicts and the destruction of Carthage in 146 BC, the advent of provincial administration in Africa and Sardinia. The political and administrative development of the republican province was gradual, as was the advance of Italic culture in Sardinia, which throughout the Late Punic age still appears to be linked to the Punic world, as evidenced by linguistic, institutional and religious legacies. The dissertation contains chapters dedicated to the analysis of the landscape, infrastructure and archaeological documentation of Sardinia in the 3rd-2nd centuries BC. The analysis of milling tools provides further insight into Sardinia's technological development of Sardinia, the reception of external influences and Mediterranean trade markets. The examination of grey-paste ware pottery in Sardinia and that of the Sulcis region, makes it possible to outline the characteristics of a mainly local ceramic class, derived from Punic and Italic pottery traditions. An other case study is that of Monte Sirai, whose historical phases have been highlighted on the basis of archaeological and architectural features, up to the abandonment of the site. Furthermore, the data from the latest excavations in the urban site of the Cronicario of Sant'Antioco, inhabited continuously from the Phoenician to the Roman Imperial age, and of Cuccureddus di Villasimius, a site reoccupied in the 3rd century BC as a sanctuary, are also analysed.

The examination of historical and archaeological sources has made it possible to analyze the impact of the “Punic crisis” and of the cultural and economic developments in the central Mediterranean in 3rd-2nd c. BC, a period marked by the Roman-Carthaginian wars and the expansion of Rome. The main focus of the research is Sardinia and the case studies of Sant'Antioco, Monte Sirai and Villasimius. The thesis outlines the historical events that affected the central Mediterranean, starting from the relations highlighted by the Roman-Carthaginian treaties, through to the conflicts and the destruction of Carthage in 146 BC, the advent of provincial administration in Africa and Sardinia. The political and administrative development of the republican province was gradual, as was the advance of Italic culture in Sardinia, which throughout the Late Punic age still appears to be linked to the Punic world, as evidenced by linguistic, institutional and religious legacies. The dissertation contains chapters dedicated to the analysis of the landscape, infrastructure and archaeological documentation of Sardinia in the 3rd-2nd centuries BC. The analysis of milling tools provides further insight into Sardinia's technological development of Sardinia, the reception of external influences and Mediterranean trade markets. The examination of grey-paste ware pottery in Sardinia and that of the Sulcis region, makes it possible to outline the characteristics of a mainly local ceramic class, derived from Punic and Italic pottery traditions. An other case study is that of Monte Sirai, whose historical phases have been highlighted on the basis of archaeological and architectural features, up to the abandonment of the site. Furthermore, the data from the latest excavations in the urban site of the Cronicario of Sant'Antioco, inhabited continuously from the Phoenician to the Roman Imperial age, and of Cuccureddus di Villasimius, a site reoccupied in the 3rd century BC as a sanctuary, are also analysed