Page:History of Art in Sardinia, Judæa, Syria and Asia Minor Vol 1.djvu/112

 94 A History of Art in Sardinia and Judaea. without, as it may, with equal probability, have been suggested by a Phoenician specimen. In the Planu tomb, fragments of pottery were found ; the clay is a beautiful red, glazed over with shining black, closely resembling that seen on Greek vases. 1 Such pottery, however, was recognized by the explorer to be much posterior to the sepulchral monuments in which it was found, and cannot be classed along with nuragh ceramics. Moreover, it has been proved that the giants' sepul- chres were used by successive generations as places of burial. Glass has not been disinterred at Teti, either in the form of vessels, beads, or amulets. There seems to be some uncertainty as to amber having been among the finds there recovered ; but there is none about its presence at Forraxi Noi; 2 a fact not at all surprising in itself, when it is remembered in what estimation amber was held by the barbarous tribes of the western coasts of the Mediterranean. 3 § 7. — General Outlines of Sardinian Civilization. At the end of this study the need is felt of recapitulating the impressions left upon the mind that approaches the subject without bias, and solely in view of collecting and grouping his facts. But whether he has sought them in the rare ancient texts wherein mention is made of the aborigines, or examined them in their industrial products, the results we are about to state must ensue. The remains of multitudinous nuraghs are found in the divisions of Sulcis, Sinis, and on the site of Tharros. 4 No facts can be adduced in proof that nûraghs were built by the Carthaginians, for no structures at all resembling these are met with, whether in Africa, Malta, or the Spanish provinces subjected to Punic rule. On the other hand, their civilization was far too advanced to make it probable that they could be the authors of edifices conspicuous for bad arrangement and discomfort, where the efforts displayed bore no proportion to the result obtained. The only explanation, therefore, to be offered for the presence of nuraghs in localities occupied by Punic colonists, is that they were built by the natives 1 La Poterie des AYerag/ies, etc., p. 65. 2 Pais, Boll., p. 150, No. 168. 3 The Romans, even in later times, set great store upon amber ; nor is it out of favour with the Mohammedans of the present day, both as beads and mouthpieces to their long pipes. — Editor. 1 Pais, Bollettino, p. 179, No. 204, 1884.