The Punic inscriptions

Abstract

This chapter presents a report on the Punic inscriptions retrieved from the site at Tas-Silg during the excavations conducted by the Department of Classics and Archaeology of the Universiry of Malta between 1996 and 2005. Our aim is primarily to present the data in as clear and precise a manner as possible and in such a way that readers will be able to draw their own conclusions. Consequently, we shall engage in a discussion with previous interpretations that have been brought forth by other scholars only when this is absolutely necessary. It is clear that we intend to pursue further studies on these inscriptions at a later stage in other venues. This does not mean that we shall not give our own interpretation of the evidence, but we want to make it clear that such an interpretation could be challenged by other readers. The structure of our report is as follows: 1) Discussion of various methodological issues; 2) Presentation of the data; 3) Interpretation of the data; 4) Concluding remarks. The word 'inscriptions' in our tide might be considered as inappropriate since the bulk of our data consists of isolated Punic letters, which are generally incised on potsherds. Nevertheless, in this report, we shall still be using this term - albeit in its wider sense - as a general term as it incorporates any type of incised or carved writing, regardless of its length.