In 1861, Filippo Nissardi found a Punic inscription (3rd cent. B.C.) with a dedication to Astarte at Capo S. Elia di Cagliari, which was published by canon Giovanni Spano.
Between 2002 and 2008, a series of surveys documented the site’s extension, revealing its importance. Preliminary bibliographic research had shown that no archaeological work had been undertaken in the area where the inscription was found.
In 2008, the first excavations took place in an area where walls were present.

Although it is not certain that the walls belong to the medieval church of S. Elia, the presence of a cult structure at least renders plausible the church was built stood in the area previously occupied by the temple of Astarte, perhaps reusing, completely or partially, the pre-existing building. This hypothesis is supported by the presence, in the thickness of the walls, of the surviving structures of what is thought to be a chapel built of massive limestone ashlar blocks, but which could relate to the pre-existing Punic temple.

While the vegetation and turf were removed from the excavation area, a surface survey of the entire hill began (ongoing). This investigation identified a series of elements of great interest:
1) about ten quarry faces on various sizes, situated in diverse sectors of the hill. At present neither their exact dating nor the use made of the quarried materials can be established;
2) clear cart tracks running in the same direction as the present road used by the military, but whose origins can plausibly be attributed to the Punic period;
3) a wall c. 60/70 cm wide, of which only one course was visible, that ran for 200 m parallel to the track at about 2 m from it;
4) pottery fragments attributable to the Republican and early imperial periods found in the area of the ex Stabulario and on the western slopes of the part of the hill were the Fort of S. Ignazio stands;
5) stone cists (quadrangular and circular) of c. 1 m in width, whose structures recall Punic tomb types.