Portoscuso, Phoenician necropolis of San Giorgio

The burial ground is located on the O coast of Sulcis, in the recess of Porto sa Linna (wood port), still used in the early twentieth century for loading wood. In ancient times, the coastline must have been significantly different from the current situation, due to the probable greater incidence of the current swampy areas of Su Stangioni and the Boi Cerbus reservoir.
The necropolis includes eleven Phoenician burials dating back to 770-750 BC. They are located in a territory that shows a certain consistency of Nuragic settlements, while the nearby Phoenician center of Monte Sirai is only 7 km as the crow flies.
The reference town of the small necropolis is currently unknown, but its location in N, in the area of Portovesme, is likely.
The tombs are of the lithic cassette type. The cremated remains of the dead are placed inside commercial amphorae normally used for the maritime transport of foodstuffs. The kit consists of typical jugs coated with red paint, single-angled cups and pots, in some cases even silver jewelry and bronze weapons.
The burials with their related equipment, currently on display in the National Archaeological Museum of Cagliari, are of exceptional interest because they document the incineration of some of the first navigators who arrived and settled on the Sardinian coast, in some cases bringing with them products directly imported from the East: the small burial ground (originally not to exceed 20 units) of a distinct group of Phoenicians, probably aristocrats eager to maintain close kinship and underline a common cultural background, similar to what emerged from research carried out on the coasts of Mediterranean Andalusia.
In fact, the cemetery area of San Giorgio reveals a ritual that seems to link the symbolism of the funeral banquet to the ostentation of a high social rank. This is suggested by the presence of the jewels and weapons found in association with the vessels normally used to transport (amphorae), pour (jugs) and consume (cups) wine.

History of excavations
The necropolis was highlighted in February 1990, during an emergency intervention by the Archaeological Superintendence for the provinces of Cagliari and Oristano.

Bibliography
P. Bernardini, “The Phoenicians in Sulcis. The necropolis of S. Giorgio di Portoscuso and the settlement of the Chronicario di Sant'Antioco”, in The Phoenician Ceramics of Sardinia. Data, problems, comparisons. Proceedings of the First Sulcitan International Congress, edited by P. Bartoloni-L. Campanella (Sant'Antioco, 19-21 September 1997), series “Collection of Phoenician Studies, 40, Rome, C.N.R., 2000, pp. 29-62.;
P. Bernardini, “The Phoenicians in Sulcis”, in Argyróphleps nesos. The island with silver veins: explorers, merchants and settlers in Sardinia between the 14th and the 6th century BC, edited by P. Bernardini-R. D'Oriano, Fiorano Modenese, Municipality of Fiorano Modenese, 2001, pp. 41-46;
P. Bernardini, “The Fires of Passage, the Rooms of Silence: Aspects of the Funerary Ritual in Phoenician and Punic Sardinia”, in Notebooks of the Museum, 1, 2003, pp. 257-292.

How to get there
From Iglesias, reach the SS 130 and continue in the direction of Carbonia. The road crosses the SS 126, which runs up to the height of Bacu Abis, passing Gonnesa. Turn south, along the SP 82 to Portoscuso, and continue, entering the SP 2, to the industrial area of Portovesme. At the height of the ALCOA plant, turn downwards towards the sea, up to the necropolis called “di San Giorgio”.