A manuscript from 1592, stolen from the diocesan archive of the Sardinian capital in the 1970s concerning the canonical process with which the archdiocese of Cagliari officially recognized the history and miracles attributed to the statue of Our Lady of Bonaria. But also a machine gun dating back to the Second World War and found 50 meters deep in the Gulf of Cagliari and a long list of archaeological, historical, documentary and ecclesiastical assets, from the Bronze Age to the last century.
These are just some of the more than 150 finds, from the protohistoric age to the Second World War, recovered in service operations and underwater activities of the Carabinieri unit for the protection of cultural heritage of Cagliari and on display in Barumini at the Center for Communication and Promotion of Cultural Heritage " Giovanni Lilliu ”. The opportunity to admire them comes from ' Thesaurus – The usurped heritage ', the exhibition inaugurated last March and which, given the success achieved so far, can still be visited in Barumini.
The set-up is part of the project idea desired by the Barumini Sistema Cultura Foundation and the Carabinieri Unit for the Protection of Cultural Heritage of Cagliari , to raise awareness among citizens on the issues of safeguarding and protecting cultural heritage, involving young Sardinian students on the importance of the protection of Sardinian archaeological assets, as well as making known the work of the Carabinieri Nucleus engaged in the recovery and protection of lost or illegally stolen cultural assets.
The exhibition, born in collaboration with the Superintendency of Archaeology, fine arts and landscape for the metropolitan city of Cagliari and the provinces of Oristano and South Sardinia and the Municipality of Barumini , still showcases the assets from the preventive and regressive recovery operations carried out by the military to protect the archaeological, historical and documentary importance of these historical objects now removed from illegal activities. Among the finds there are also lead stumps found over 40 meters deep in the Gulf of Cagliari, lead ingots dating back to Roman times and more amphorae, necklaces, beetles and other finds now recovered and preserved for the community.
During the months of preparation, the exhibition was also aimed at the youngest with visits from high school students (3rd and 4th grades) and directly involved the kids who were able to collaborate with the various institutions involved. The didactic project provided the students with all the didactic material being studied, resulting from the elaboration of an individual or group project in the classroom, which culminated in a competition which made it possible to reward the best work before the end of the school year.
The exhibition can still be visited every day of the week.
For info: http://www.fondazionebarumini.it/it/orari-tariffe-e-modalita-di-visita/