Sardinia, ancient mosaic tiles returned after decades taken as souvenirs by a tourist

Returning home after several decades are three tiles of an ancient Roman mosaic that a tourist, during a visit to thearchaeological site in the municipality of Cabras, Sardinia, took home as a souvenir. A small piece of history from the city of Tharros.

The tiles have now been found by a relative in the tourist’s private home in the Turin area after the man passed away; therefore, he thought it right, even after decades, to return the mosaic tiles to their places of origin. He put them in a sealed envelope and sent them to the Mont’e Prama Foundation along with a letter of apology. “I am returning what was unduly taken from your archaeological site and found among the objects of a deceased relative of mine. Sincerely sorry for the theft suffered by you, of which I knew nothing, I offer my apologies,” it reads.

“We are managing the operations in close connection with the Soprintendenza Archeologica Belle Arti e Paesaggio of the Metropolitan City of Cagliari, Oristano and South Sardinia,” reports Mont’e Prama Foundation President Anthony Muroni. “We have informed and delivered the fragments, which will be analyzed and we hope they will soon return to the archaeological area.”

“We will provide in the coming days for the verification of the finds,” said Superintendent Monica Stochino. “It is certainly an important gesture that attests to how citizens are beginning to understand the importance of protection and the collective character of the protected cultural heritage.”

It is difficult to understand the original location of the tiles, as the archaeological area is full of such fragments. Giving a clue, however, is the inscription left by the man who took possession of them, who wrote on a sheet, “Temple of Sacrifices.” The size of the three tesserae suggests that they belonged to a work of the Roman Imperial or late ancient age.

Sardinia, ancient mosaic tiles returned after decades taken as souvenirs by a tourist

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