The sculptures offered by the tophet in Tharros are varied; one category that has been preserved has been so far found to be unique to Sardinia.

The sculpture shows a square stone with the lower part tapered towards the top, crowned by a jutting cornice that defines the top edge (figs. 1-3). This has a reverse direction, jutting out towards the outside, with a flat top. The front wall carries a sun circle in relief work The back wall of the stone shows traces of red paint.

Fig. 1 - Sandstone memorial stone from the tophet (Oristano, Antiquarium Arborense) (photo by Unicity S.p.A.)

Fig. 2 - Sandstone memorial stone from the tophet (Oristano, Antiquarium Arborense) (photo by Unicity S.p.A.)

Fig. 3 - Sandstone memorial stone from the tophet (Oristano, Antiquarium Arborense) (photo by Unicity S.p.A.)

One particular characteristic of the Tharros tophet, making it different from other Sardinian tophets, is the presence of large stones, simple, as in this example, or decorated in the upper part with other elements. Comparisons, although not identical, can be found outside the island, in Mozia in Sicily and in Carthage (fig. 4).

Fig. 4 - Memorial stone form the tophet in Carthage (from BARTOLONI 1976, picture XLIII, 151 )

The stone belongs to class VI of the Tore classification (fig. 5).

Fig. 5 - The type classification of the stelae in Tharros (from TORE, 1975, picture 1. Review C. Tronchetti)

The stratigraphy of the Mozia tophet has dated the Tharros monument between the end of the 6th and the start of the 5th century B.C. As well as in the tophet, memorial stones were also used in the necropolises, as can be seen here, probably from the northern necropolis in Tharros, with an inscription that states “tomb of B’LZBL, wife of ZRBL, son of MQM”, dated to the 4th century B.C. (fig. 6).

Fig. 6 - Funeral stone from Tharros from 4th century B.C. (from UBERTI 1986, p. 115)