- Rubens D’Oriano and Antonio Sanciu –
Figure 12.8 Etruscan jug (olpe) for wine, probably from Tharros (early sixth century bc).Figure 12.9 Greek amphora with erotic scene imported into Tharros from Etruria (560–550 bc).fi nds of high profi le goods, especially items related to the banquet, and particularly for
the consumption of wine (amphorae containing wine, and pottery, also metal vessels for
preparation and drinking: Fig. 12.10), objects for personal care and ornaments (jewelry
and perfumes: Fig. 12.11), and to a lesser degree offerings and various objects that
allow the display of rank (bronze fi gurines, etc.). We are dealing with objects moving in
aristocratic circles generally as gifts functioning to initiate the exchange of other goods
between the human ethnic-cultural peer groups at the origin and destination of the
goods (this included the indigenous elites of Sardinia) and these goods are often valuable
indicators of the sharing, whether partial or deep-seated, of similar social values, such as
public expression of rank at the banquet, funeral rites, etc.
We can ascertain from archaeological fi nds, however, only the tip of the iceberg;
the massive component of trade was probably represented by goods of widespread and
popular consumption (such as agro-pastoral and marine products, minerals, etc.), And we
are missing other perishable and valuable assets like textiles, spices, slaves, and so on. We
know only in part the intangible yet vital components such as the sharing of information
(geographical, historical, etc.), technology (naval, metallurgical, ceramics, etc.), world
views, diplomatic agreements, myths, legends, etc., in short, culture in the broadest and
most proper sense.
As for carriers of these exchanges, it is possible that before the massive explosion of
Etruscan maritime commerce in the late seventh century, there was a clear preponderance
of Phoenician activity, and later we have to imagine a shared venture with Etruscans
though perhaps more in the scope of a Phoenician leadership. An important clue to
this partnership, beyond the usual archaeological material, is a fragment of an Etruscan