 Starting from 705–706, the Saracens from the recently conquered North Africa would harass the Sardinians from the coastal towns.Details about the island's political situation in the following centuries are scarce.Because of the Saracen attacks in the 9th century, Tharros was abandoned in favor of Oristano after more than 1,800 years of habitation; Caralis, Porto Torres and numerous other coastal centres suffered the same fate.