Re: [tied] Re: Sardinian.

From: John Croft

 

As for who these people are, the culture of Sardinia during the Late Bronze Age - early Iron Age is highly destinct and very different than anywhere else in Europe.  Known as the Nuraghe Builders (from the building of round circular defensive towers similar to the Scottish Brochs in form - but with no connection historically), they also left many little bronze figurines of sward bearing and horned helmetted warriors.  Many have pointed to the similarity between them and the Shardana, as painted at Medinet Habu and other Egyptian inscriptions by Rameses II (who had a detatchment of Shardana mercinaries on his side at Kadesh), by Marenptah and Rameses III.

The clincher is the recent excavation of a Nuraghe Builder site in...
yes you guessed it, Israel. Thus the Nuraghe Builders were probably the Shardana, and they participated in the Peoples of the Sea troubles. Linguists suggest that Sharda-na is related to the city of Sardis, capital of the Lydians and Persian province of Lydia. If this is true, then we have another movement similar to the Tyrrhenoi. Starting in Western Anatolia, attacking Egypt, and settling in the Western Mediterranean.

Whatever the movements, the Shardana seem to have not had much of an
impact upon Sardinian genes (unless they were the ones who introduced
the Caucasian element

Interesting. I knew of the nuraghe cyclopian megaliths. Your post brought together some vague references I've come across.

 

Certainly, someone must have commented on the etymological match between Shardana and Sardinia, to complement that of Sardis.

 

From what I've read of the Ancient nuraghe structures, these are forts, castles. It's as if their builders were in fear of those around them. A militarized elite imposing itself by force on a resistant native population?

 

As for what language these people spoke, well, Tyrrhenian (in the Etruscan-Lemnian-Rhaetic sense) is a reasonable suggestion. It jibes with Herodotus' testimony.

 

This is the web site for the El-Ahwat Shardana site in Israel:

http://research.haifa.ac.il/%7Earchlgy/projects/ahawat/index.htm

 

The whole subject is fascinating.

 

Mark.