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E 'from time immemorial been working in Sardinia, and precious objects that were born after a careful work, had the most disparate functions. Amulets, oracles, luxury items or accessories that would embellish the image of women. It is true that the coral is closely linked to the Sardinian, and always plentiful in the seas surrounding the island. He needs, for its growth, constant salinity and a subdued lighting. Here is that normally can be found in caves in the cliffs or from a depth of 20 meters up to a maximum of 200 meters. The etymology of the name is a matter of contention. According to some derives from the greek Koraillon, that is hard skeleton, according to others from Kurahalos ie human form, others I take the hand resulting from Hebrew Goral, a name which had the stones used with the role of an oracle, a function that would absolve even the coral. According to Ovid red coral comes from the blood of one of the Gorgons, Medusa, the blood lost when Perseus decapitated. The look of the Gorgons in fact had the ability to petrify, and the blood of Medusa in contact with water petrified algae, tinged with red.

Processing of coral from the people of Sardinia is the practice of remote origin. Rich seas since ancient times, we know almost certainly that the extraction and processing was the highest level in a period of Carthaginian domination, and although some historians disagree with this statement, the archaeological discoveries dispel all doubt. And 'certain that in Roman times was still fishing for coral used for the production of highly valuable. Official documents refer to coral fishing in Sardinia, in truth we possess them only from the thirteenth century. In the late medieval period coral fishing had become something very risky even for the professionals, as the presence of strong attacks aimed to Sardinia and from the sea. Also included were in effect as fishers of coral, the Benedictine monks. The precious material was increasingly used for the creation of ritual objects and sacred. Early in Sardinian seas as fishermen coral appear both the Genoese, and the Pisan.

Even today, coral mining and processing practices are widespread in Sardinia. And the Sardinian craftsmen, heirs to an ancient dynasty, succeeded in producing flawless gems of invoice that even today, you want the color on, anytime for exquisite technique, enchant and amaze Sardinian women and beyond. If Alghero has always been the capital of the extraction and processing of the coral, it is fair to say that famous laboratories are located in St. Helena and Quartu Dorgali.

Claudia Zedda