Riti alimentari nella Sardegna punica: il caso di Pani Loriga

The purpose of this paper is to offer to the scientific community the results of some recent investigations at the Punic settlement of Pani Loriga, located in south-western Sardinia. The excavations by the CNR (Italian National Research Council) on the northern slope of Pani Loriga hill have revealed a large building containing numerous rooms, whose original layout dates back to the late 6th-early 5th centuries BC. This building, still being excavated, presents some contexts relevant to the conference themes. For example, investigations in Room 7 have brought to light a foundation deposit made up of selected parts of different animals: sheep, cattle and deer are all documented. Furthermore in Room 1, interpreted as a sacellum, other animal bones used for sacrifices or remains of a meal were found at the base of a bench. These data have been added to that relating to the biochemical analyses (conducted by Nicolas Garnier) on the contents of a number of vessels found in rooms where food and drink were prepared. Among the remains identified, an important role was played by wine, both red and white, which was produced and traded at Pani Loriga.