La (cattiva) coscienza del falsario. Ricerca e produzione di iscrizioni latine in Sardegna fra XVI e XIX secolo

The search for inscriptions in Sardinia in the modern period stems from the desire of Sardinian antiquarians to reconstruct local history through the help of epigraphic documentation. In the 17th century, the purposes of counterfeiters were primarily to boost the cultural and political primacy of both Cagliari and Sassari, to extol the close relationship between Sardinia and Spain, and to assert the Christian roots of Sardinian culture. In the 19th century , the main objectives were firstly to reinstate the island’s prestige and, secondly, to reinforce its role in the cultural landscape of the Kingdom of Sardinia.