Between form and substance: spaces and productions from the RBT Elat temple in Sulci

Abstract

This study presents a comprehensive analysis of selected archaeological evidence discovered during research conducted by the University of Sassari in the Cronicario area of Sant'Antioco, a sector within the ancient Phoenician, Punic, and Roman city of Sulky/Sulci. The main objective of this research is to thoroughly examine the material culture associated with a complex of structures believed to be connected to a nearby sacred area, possibly corresponding to the temple of RBT Elat mentioned in the bilingual Sulcitan inscription from the 1st century BC. A particular focus is placed on the analysis of various types of votive terracottas, which are contextualized within a broader documentary framework. Through the interpretation of these artifacts, this study aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the social and cultural complexities characterizing the transitional period between the Punic and subsequent Roman eras.

The papers published in this volume were presented at the International Conference “What can Terracottas tell us: Coroplastic Polysemy in the Ancient Mediterranean” (Cagliari - Cittadella dei Musei, 10–12th November 2022) organized under the scientific direction of Romina Carboni, Claudia Cenci and Nicola Chiarenza.