There is little or no literary or archaeological evidence for Cornus. However, despite this lack of information it is thought that the settlement was a Punic foundation dating to the end of the 6th century B.C. linked to the exploitation of the Montiferru mines. Livy cites Cornus in association with the 215 B.C. the Sardinian and Carthaginian revolt against Rome led by Hampsicora and his son Hostus, Sardorum duces (Liv. XXIII 40, 1-12; 41, 1-7). Within the sphere of these events, Cornus is defined caput eius regionis. The revolt ended with the victory of the praetor T. Manlius Torquatus and the taking of the city intra dies paucos.

The first two excavation campaigns mainly investigated the levels dating to the late antique occupation of the site. The earliest phases of Cornus remained unexplored. Although preliminary, the excavation data provided a reconstruction of three building phases. The earliest was attested by a cistern built of large squared limestone blocks. Although its foundation levels have yet to be excavated, the construction technique suggests that it probably dates to a phase no later than the 2nd century A. D.

A second building phase was attested by a structure, probably a bath building, which ARS D dates to the last quarter of the 4th century A.D.
The final phase, coinciding with a renewed occupation of Cornus as a Byzantine castrum, was represented by an apsidal building, probably a basilica, dating to the beginning of the 6th century A.D.

The latest pottery found on the site dates to the 7th century A.D. Therefore, it may be suggested that the site was abandoned at the beginning of the 8th century A.D., at the same time as the abandonment of the Episcopal citadel of Columbaris below.