Tharros was a city founded by Phoenicians in the VIII century BC, pretty close to a nuragic village from Bronze Age called "Su muru mannu" that means "the great wall". In the middle of the wall has been fitted the tophet, a Punic-Phoenician sanctuary with no ceiling where people's ashes were buried.During VI century BC the town was fortified by Carthaginians, the ruling group at the time. Tharros was also prospering thanks to the active trading with Africa, Iberian Peninsula and the city of Massalia.
In 238 BC it was captured and subdued by Romans who worked hard to upgrade the city making features like Thermal Baths, aqueduct and road network. After Western Roman Empire falling, Tharros had a critical period. First came Vandals, then Byzantine peoples. Raids from tribes of Arabia pushed at last Byzantines to leave Sardinia as well as Tharros now at the mercy of marauders and pirates' incursions. It was abandoned for good around the year 1000.
