Climate change and its outcome on the archaeological areas and their building materials. The case study of Tharros (Italy)

Abstract

Tharros is an archaeological site located in the municipality of Cabras, (Sardinia, Italy). The city was founded by Phoenicians in VII Cent. BC, by using advanced building techniques. A detailed petrographic, physical and thermal analysis on construction mortars allows us to obtain archaeometric infor- mation about processing, production and geometrical laying as well as their current state of decay/conservation. Although Tharros is now musealized and safeguarded, it is subject to risks due to climate change. One of these risks is the sea-level rising that can affect the archaeological area and their building materials. Level rising and coastal line modification at Tharros were analyzed according to 3 most important future climatic scenarios. Some hypotheses about the consequences on mortars of a possible flood on the archaeological site are illustrated in the text