The occupation of the territory of Dorgali during the Roman and Late-Ancient Ages is clearly documented in over eighty sites by artefacts (figs. 1, 2, 3) and masonry structures.

Fig. 1 - Known sites of Roman and Late-Ancient Ages in the territory of Dorgali (from DELUSSU, IBBA 2012, fig. 4, p. 2200).

From the second century B.C. up until the fourth century A.D., the phenomenon of reusing existing Nuraghic sites is very frequent, and typical of the process of Romanisation which took place as a result of the difficult Roman conquest of central-eastern Sardinia, which occurred between the mid-third century and the end of the second century B.C.

Fig. 2 - Bronze disk with late Roman inscription from Siddai-Dorgali (from DELUSSU, IBBA 2012, fig. 2, p. 2197).

Fig. 3 - Lead ingot recovered in the waters off Cala Cartoe-Dorgali-dating to the II-I centuries B.C. (from http://www.museoarcheologicodorgali.it/wp/museo_archeologia_in_sardegna/la-storia-di-dorgali-in-20-reperti/).

One of the places it is necessary to refer to in order to define the history of the landscape and the geography of the area, is that of the Roman station of Viniolae, in the countryside of Dorgali (which is now identified with the site of Finiodda in the Valley of the Oddoene), cited in Antonine’s itinerary, and located along the iter a Portu Tibulas Karalis, i.e. on the road which developed along the east coast of Sardinia, and along which most of the known Roman settlements are located. Other sites have been identified at the two intersecting branches directed inland, in the direction of the valley of Isalle and Oliena, towards inner Barbagia.