Archeology

The Archaeological Collection, acquired at the beginning of the twentieth century by the Archiepiscopal Seminary, is composed of over five hundred vases from the Punic and Roman periods, probably coming from the southern necropolis of Tharros, a rich numismatic collection, some protohistoric artifacts, a few glass pieces, three marble capitals, and several casts of inscriptions from Christian catacombs. The archaeological collection has a marked antiquarian character and falls within that nineteenth-century taste for cultured collecting aimed at acquiring valuable materials for their intrinsic worth, regardless of the context of their discovery. This phenomenon, which during the same century led to the birth of numerous private collections, only partially merged into public museums, developed in parallel with excavation activities carried out by antiquarians, collectors, and treasure hunters, especially in ancient necropolises, which resulted in the dispersion of materials and the loss of discovery contexts. Punic and Roman Ceramics The over five hundred vases belonging to the Seminary Collection, mostly from the Punic and Roman periods, are generally in good condition. It is likely that most of them originate from the necropolises of Tharros, which were systematically looted during the 19th century. Although the grave goods in Punic and Roman tombs originally included both vases and personal items of the deceased—such as jewelry—the Collection only contains the former, due to the fragmentation of archaeological contexts typical of 19th-century antiquarian practices. Among the Punic ceramics, dated between the late 7th and 3rd centuries BC, a variety of forms are represented: jugs used in cremation rituals during the Archaic period, perfume containers, large amphorae for transporting goods, domestic jugs and amphorae—some painted—as well as plates and cups, all of which were part of burial sets mainly found in inhumation tombs. There are also numerous cooking pots, often with burn marks on the bottom, meant to contain food for the needs of the deceased. Accompanying these items were also some Greek-made vases with characteristic black glaze and others of local imitation, one of which bears a short Punic inscription scratched into its surface. Among the Roman and, less frequently, Late Antique ceramics—ranging from the 2nd century BC to the 5th century AD—there is a predominance of jugs, some of African origin, as well as small amphorae, pitchers, jars, lids, and pots, some of which were likely used as cinerary urns. Particularly noteworthy is a large plate from the 1st century AD bearing the maker’s stamp, attributable to the red-gloss ware known as Italic “terra sigillata.” The collection also includes a few glass vessels from the Roman Imperial period, such as a large cinerary urn, several oil lamps, and a transport amphora from the Republican era (1st century BC).