A morning exploring Sardinia's history, from the Renaissance to the Zapata family papers. At the 12th edition of the Sardinia Cultural Tourism Expo, two conferences showcase how archaeology and archives help us understand the island's transformations.
From 9:30 to 10:30 a.m., Maria Antonietta Mongiu will host the meeting "Lights and Shadows in Archaeology during the Renaissance," dedicated to the role of archaeology in a period of transformation for Sardinia. This will be followed by a musical interlude by the "Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina" State Conservatory of Music in Cagliari.
This paper addresses a little-explored topic: the role of archaeology in the Renaissance and Giovanni Lilliu, the leading figure in this long journey. In the post-World War II period, Lilliu and Gennaro Pesce organized an exhibition on Nuragic bronzes. It was an attempt to tell a story of Sardinia beyond its underdevelopment. The exhibition was intended to be a narrative for Europe—it was staged in major European capitals—of a region that had played a leading role in ancient times. The relationship between Giovanni Lilliu and Luigi Crespellani, the region's first president, remains to be explored.
Two Christian Democrats, but above all, Catholics, governed by a regrettable public service ethic. In the 1950s, Giovanni Lilliu's approach was driven by the need to more adequately explore the history of ancient Sardinia. Excavations were undertaken at Barumini, Nora, and Tharros. Despite their now-abhorrent pace, they laid the foundations for contemporary archaeology and a different interpretation of Sardinia. This was well illustrated by extraordinary figures, led by Giovanni Lilliu, in the 1951 monographic issue of the journal Il Ponte, dedicated to Sardinia. Rereading it, one is struck by how we have now taken steps backward in the perception of archaeology and Sardinia, and in their reification. In long-term history, this happens more frequently than one might imagine.
From 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., "The Zapata Archives of Las Plassas. A Project for Enhancement and Museumization" explores how the family papers are preserved and how to make them accessible to the public. After greetings from Mayor Emanuele Lilliu and Enrico Fenu of the Sardinian Archive Superintendency, Caterina Lilliu of the Casa Zapata Museum Center introduces and coordinates. RaiNews24 journalist Lorenzo di Las Plassas discusses the preservation of the archive and the family's memory. Giovanni Serreli and Maria Grazia R. Mele of the CNR-ISEM discuss Açor Zapata's purchase of the Baronìa and the relationship between royal and local authorities in the 16th century. Vittorio Romerio and Daniele Vacca discuss Pietro Sanna Malondo's degree and the Camarassa murder. Sara Cadde, author of the factsheets on the material characteristics of the parchments, also participates.
