Events

Mediterranean Archaeology and Sardinia’s Heritage

This digital online exhibition explores the dozens of colossal pre-Roman figures discovered in 1974. These statues of archers, boxers, and warriors—as well as building models—were sculpted by a towering Mediterranean civilization that remains little known today.

Thousands of shattered limestone pieces came to light in recent years in Mont'e Prama (western Sardinia) and have been reassembled into massive statues that reward close study by archaeologists, historians, conservators, and restorers. Now symbols of Sardinia's rich cultural history, these sculptures draw crowds to the museums in Sardinia. Their story can be explored through the six chapters and photo galleries of this exhibition.

Organizers:
Barbara Faedda, Italian Academy, Columbia University
Paolo Carta, University of Trento

Co-sponsor:
Italy’s Autonomous Region of Sardinia 

This online exhibition is part of the Italian Academy's Sardinia Cultural Heritage Project [link] which includes a book from Columbia University Press—focusing on the statues of Mont’e Prama—as well as a gallery show and a conference exploring a related archaeological site, Tharros. In a related initiative, the Academy facilitated the loan of a 3000-year-old statue from Mont’e Prama to New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art (on display May–December 2023).