Carla Del Vais

First finds of Prunus domestica L. in Italy from the Phoenician and Punic periods (6th-2nd centuries BC)

During the archaeological excavations in the Phoenician and Punic settlement of Santa Giusta (Oristano, Sardinia, Italy), dating back to the 6th–2nd centuries bc, several Prunus fruitstones (endocarps) inside amphorae were recovered. The exceptional state of preservation of the waterlogged remains allowed morphometric measurements to be done by image analysis and statistical comparisons made with modern cultivated and wild Prunus samples collected in Sardinia. Digital images of modern and archaeological Prunus fruitstones were acquired with a flatbed scanner and analysed by applying image analysis techniques to measure 26 morphometric features. By applying stepwise linear discriminant analysis, a morphometric comparison was made between the archaeological fruitstones of Prunus and the modern ones collected in Sardinia. These analyses allowed identification of 53 archaeological fruitstones as P. spinosa and 11 as P. domestica. Moreover, the archaeological samples of P. spinosa showed morphometric similarities in 92.5% of the cases with the modern P. spinosa samples currently growing near the Phoenician and Punic site. Likewise, the archaeological fruitstones identified as P. domestica showed similarities with the modern variety of P. domestica called Sanguigna di Bosa which is currently cultivated near the village of Bosa. Currently, these findings represent the first evidence of P. domestica in Italy during the Phoenician and Punic periods.

New insights about economic plants during the 6th–2nd centuries bc in Sardinia, Italy

A research project carried out in Santa Giusta lagoon, Sardinia, since 2005 has revealed the presence of Phoenician and Punic waterlogged archaeological contexts of exceptional importance. Several transport amphorae, together with Punic coarse pottery and materials typical of funerary and votive contexts have been recovered. Two principal deposition phases have been distinguished, the first one dated to the 6th–5th century bc and the second dated to the 3rd−2nd century bc. The waterlogged conditions favoured the preservation of plant remains such as Citrullus lanatus, Corylus avellana, Juglans regia, Juniperus oxycedrus, Lagenaria siceraria, Olea europaea, Pinus pinea, P. halepensis, Prunus dulcis, P. domestica, P. spinosa and Vitis vinifera. Many amphorae contained ovine/caprine bones with slaughter or butchering marks, associated with grapes and other juicy fruits that have been interpreted as possible ingredients used as meat preservatives. This study provides information on the management of plants of economic importance for the Phoenician and Punic communities in Sardinia.

Le indagini nell’area protostorica e storica di Su Angiu - Mandas (CA)

Riassunto: L’area archeologica ubicata a Sud del Nuraghe Su Angiu a Mandas e stata oggetto di una concessione ministeriale quinquennale che ha visto la conduzione di tre campagne di scavo, svoltesi dal 2007 al 2009. L’imponente nuraghe quadrilobato testimonia l’importante occupazione nuragica del sito, seguita da una fase di frequentazione allogena documentata da ceramica d’importazione. La presenza punica e ben attestata nell’area, ma non associata, al momento, ad alcuna struttura; ad eta romana sembrerebbe invece riferirsi l’impianto di strutture monumentali, poi abbandonate probabilmente in eta alto-medievale. Abstract: The archaeological site located to the south of the Nuraghe Su Angiu near Mandas has been the subject of three excavation campaigns between 2007 and 2009, thanks to a ministerial concession for the period 2007-2012. The impressive quadrilobate nuraghe testifies to the significant nuragic occupation of the site, followed by a phase of allochthonous use documented by imported pottery. The Punic presence is well attested in the area, but not associated to any structures; the erection of monumental structures seems instead to refer to the Roman period; the subsequent abandonment of the settlement probably occurs during the High Middle Age .