Mulargia
Mulargia: a small hamlet of Bortigali
Mulargia, also known as Mulàrza in Sardinian language, is a geographic hamlet of the municipality of Bortigali, in the province of Nuoro. This small locality is situated at an altitude of 704 meters above sea level and has a population of about 45 inhabitants. Until 1865, Mulargia was an autonomous municipality.
Physical Geography
Territory
Mulargia is located in the southern part of the Campeda plateau, northwest of the municipality of Bortigali, about 7 km away. This hamlet is situated at the beginning of the Marghine mountain chain.
History
Human Presence in the Territory
Human presence in the territory of Mulargia dates back to the Nuragic and pre-Nuragic era, as evidenced by the numerous archaeological monuments present in the vicinity of the settlement.
Mulargia in the Punic-Roman Era
Mulargia was of great importance as an extractive center of ignimbrite and for production of milling stones during the Punic-Roman period. The production of milling stones was so important that Mulargia took its name from the ancient Latin word "macina". Archaeologists have found milling stones from Mulargia in various places in the Mediterranean, such as Liguria, Sicily, Spain, Tunisia and Morocco. Mulargia is also known for the oldest rotary milling stone of the "pompeian hourglass" type in the Mediterranean, recovered from a shipwreck in the 4th century BC near Palma de Mallorca. Today, many milling stones of various types can be found collected in the courtyards of private homes.
The Roman Inscription of Aidu Entos
About 1 km from the hamlet of Mulargia, towards Bortigali, is the nuraghe of Aidu Entos, where a Latin inscription is engraved on an architrave. According to the Roman history and Latin epigraphy professor Attilio Mastino and the Roman history and epigraphy scholar Lidio Gasperini, this Latin inscription, stating "ILI . IUR . IN . NURAC . SESSAR . M C.", could be a miniature of "Ili(ensium) iur(a) in Nurac Sessar", translated as "Rights of the Ilienses over the Nuraghi of Sessar". This could mean that the Romans recognized the local Iliense population some rights over the territories west of Mulargia.
In conclusion, although Mulargia is a small hamlet of Bortigali, it was an important center of production and trade of milling stones during the Punic-Roman era. The history and presence of archaeological monuments make Mulargia an interesting destination for those who want to deepen their knowledge of Sardinia and its ancient culture.
