The history of the Italian Archaeological Mission run by Rome’s “La Sapienza” University in the Acacus and Messak region thus begins almost half a century ago, along lines initially established by Fabrizio Mori, taken up and continued by Salvatore M. Puglisi, and in more recent years by Mario Liverani, Mauro Cremaschi and Savino di Lernia.
The tradition which has been passed down until the present day is thus highly prestigious and virtually unique. As a result, the “La Sapienza” University can boast an excavation concession of enormous extent: over 60,000 km2 – equivalent to almost half of Sicily! – and an uninterrupted process of study and research which has few parallels on a world level. Forming an integral part of the excavation concession are the Tadrart Acacus massif, the valley of the Wadi Tanezzuft, the sandy expanses of the Erg Uan Kasa and part of the Edeyen of Murzuq, and, finally, the vast plateau of Messak Settafet.