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16 aprile 2016
First room: The sand of time
The first room, quick like the sand of an hourglass, describes the territory of Oristano from the first human settlements in the Early Neolithic age (7500 years ago), testified by the obsidian of Monte Arci, subject of an intense international trade, to the presence of man during the Middle and Late Neolithic age in Sinis, Montiferru, Campidano and Barigadu, until the discovery of metals (copper) and bronze.
The Nuragic culture spread in this territory from 1500 to 1000 B.C. Afterwards, thanks to the Mediterranean relations with Mycenaeans, Cypriots and Levantines, a rising culture refers to the age of "giants" (who built nuraghi and "giants' tombs"), but also builds well temples and megaron temples, makes hundreds of bronze figurines and builds enormous calcareous warriors beside the tombs of the "heroes" (Mont'e Prama, Sinis peninsula).
In 630 B.C. Phoenicians and Sardinian people built the two cities of Othoca (Santa Giusta) and Tharros. Around 520 B.C. they built the new Carthaginian market of Neapolis.
These cities grew during the Carthaginian period (until 238/237 B.C.) and during the Roman age nearby the new cities of Cornus, Uselis and Aquae Ypsitanae- Forum Traiani. Christianity spread from the 4th century A.D. Then Vandals, Byzantines, Islamic people and the kings of the reign of the Arborea...but this is another story to tell in the Museo Regionale della Sardegna Giudicale in the Arcais Palace, overlooking via Dritta.