Othoca
The Punic city Othoca (. See Utica = Phoenician : "old town") was in what is now Santa Giusta , a small town on the northeast edge of the lagoon 'Stagno di Santa Giusta "near the Gulf of Oristano, in the province of Oristano in Sardinia found .
description
Othoca stretched out on a headland by the lagoon that was navigable in ancient times. The inner harbor basin was in the northeast corner, as were numerous amphorae finds dating from around 700 BC. To be dated show. The foundation of Othoca, excavated in the 1990s, took place in the second half of the 8th century BC. The research in the crypt and in the churchyard of the Cathedral of Santa Giusta has uncovered an archaic Sardinian settlement from the late Bronze and early Iron Ages .
The excavations yielded 2.70 m thick walls, which were built between the 7th and 6th centuries. Century BC Be attributed to BC. Some researchers do not follow this dating and speak of the 4th century BC. The filling of the outer trenches with dishes, urns, cups and the bottom of a bowl depicting a bird in the late Geometric style from Phoenician production dates back to the second half of the 8th and the early decades of the 7th century BC. Dated (tripod bowl with rim, decorated with red stripes).
The necropolis of Othoca goes back to the second half of the 7th century BC based on the materials. BC back. The widespread cremation and body burials are documented. The graves are round, elliptical or rectangular. In addition to stone boxes made of sandstone slabs, there are urns . Greek and Etruscan vases were imported , which show a commercial opening of the settlement.
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During the Roman period from the 3rd century BC According to the Antonini Itinerary , Othoca had the character of a trading hub in addition to the two main towns Sulcis and Karalis . Bridges were built over the Rio Palmas, one of which was initially equipped with five arches. One main arch and two smaller arches have survived.
The urban planning of the Roman city is unknown, but the discovery of colored plaster and mosaic tiles in the cathedral and the materials reused in its construction suggest the existence of Roman buildings, characterized by columns and arcades.
Excavation history
The first archaeological investigations in Othoca, mentioned in numerous Roman sources, can be traced back to John Busachi, an antique dealer, since 1861. Around 1892 the lawyer Ephisius Pisch made an excavation to supplement his archaeological collection (currently on display in the Antiquarium of Arborea Oristano). In 1910, Othoca was explored by Antonio Taramelli . Since 1983 new excavations have taken place in the necropolis.
See also
literature
- R. Zucca: Il centro fenicio-punico di Othoca . In: Rivista di Studi Fenici, 9, 1981, pp. 98-113
- G. Tore, R. Zucca: Testimonia Antiqua Uticensia (Ricerche a Santa Giusta-Oristano) . In: Archivio Storico Sardo 34, 1983, pp. 11-35
- G. Nieddu, R. Zucca: Othoca. Una città sulla laguna , Oristano, S'Alvure, 1991
- C. Del Vais, E. Usai: La necropoli di Othoca (Santa Giusta-OR): campagne di scavo 1994-95 and 1997-98. Note preliminari . In: Atti del V Congresso Internazionale di Studi Fenici e Punici, a cura di A. Spanò Giammellaro, Palermo, 2005, pp. 965-974
Web links
Coordinates: 39 ° 52 ′ 53.3 " N , 8 ° 36 ′ 26.1" E