An area previously inaccessible has been included in the Nora Archaeological Park 's visitor itineraries for the first time since 1936, or after 90 years, offering the public the opportunity to discover one of the most important Phoenician and Punic funerary contexts in the western Mediterranean.
The opening to the public of the Phoenician and Punic necropolis located in the former military area of Nora represents a milestone in the valorization of Sardinia's historical and archaeological heritage. Until now closed to visitors pending its full restoration , this large section of the archaeological site now becomes part of the Park's cultural offering, allowing visitors to access a significant portion of the ancient city and gain a deeper understanding of its history and extent.
The area's use was made possible thanks to the commitment of the Municipality of Pula, the Pula Cultura Diffusa Foundation, and the Superintendency for Archaeological Heritage, who promoted the opening of a space of exceptional scientific and cultural value.
Inside, it houses fundamental testimonies for reconstructing the origins and development of the city of Nora and the relationships it maintained with the rest of the Mediterranean.
Since 2013, the University of Padua has been conducting an archaeological research program in the northern sector of the former military base, which has led to the discovery of a vast necropolis used for approximately seven centuries, from the Phoenician to the Punic era . "The oldest burials," a note states, "dating to the late 9th century BC, date to the first decades of the Phoenician presence in Nora. These are cremation tombs constructed using small wells dug into the rock, in which the ashes of the deceased were placed."
The Nora necropolis is unique in the Sardinian archaeological landscape: it is in fact the first and, to date, the only Phoenician necropolis on the island to have been discovered in an excellent state of preservation and investigated using modern scientific methodologies.
One of the most significant aspects of the research concerns the discovery of numerous Phoenician and Punic tombs that have remained untouched over the centuries.
For the mayor of Pula, Walter Cabasino , this is a historic date for the entire island: "Returning an archaeological space of this importance to the community and visitors from all over the world has a double significance: the opening of the western necropolis not only increases the spaces open to the public, but will also have economic benefits for the area."
Jacopo Bonetto , professor of Classical Archaeology at the University of Padua, speaks of the treasures discovered in the necropolis area, which fell within the military zone until 2012: "We excavated in an area where no archaeologist had ever set foot before, an area that had been off-limits to civilians since 1936."
Chiara Pilo , an archaeologist with the Superintendency, emphasizes the delicate task of excavating a fragile site like Nora: "There are no zero-impact campaigns, but work continues on this archaeological area with the dual objective of uncovering ever more information about the history of this ancient city and ensuring that future generations will have the opportunity to experience it as we see it today."
(Unioneonline/AD)