This Document has been translated (we apologize for any error)
1.3.3 The Necropolis in Sardinia: some testimonies
Photo FonteSarda - Megalithic Complex 1998 - Pranu Muteddu Goni (CA) - Precedent to the
Nuraghic period
The architecture of preceding epochs had characterized by Menhir and by necropolis hypogeums, as in the example represented above.
Subsequently, after the varied preceding cultures the Nuraghic period begins
Nuraghic civilization, with the end of the age of the Ancient Bronze,
around 1.600 B.C. the architecture developed by this civilization elaborates,
besides the Nuraghic towers, also numerous megalithic burials, said graves of the giants to form of taurine head (taurine protome),
and some testimonies of places of cult.
Tomb of the giants thirteenth century BC - Town Quartucciu, over St. Peter's Paradise
Photos FonteSarda 2000 Tomb of the giants Is Concias City Quartucciu - XIII century BC
One of the most beautiful tombs of age Nuragic of South-eastern Sardinia, located in the south-west of the mountains "Seven Brothers",
is approximately 350 meters above sea level, within a natural environment almost nothing anthropomorphized.
The tomb belongs to, for type constructive and materials found, the period in Bronze most recent (900-1300 BC).
This tomb is built with large granite blocks arranged in rows fairly regular basis.
The structure consists of a rectangular body tapered toward the bottom and a large exedra a semicircle.
In front is still clearly visible a betilo sunk into the ground, also as in other tombs of this kind are of the wells votive for deals rituals.
Getting the Tomb of the Giants: from Alghero: reach the S.S. 131 then continue up to Cagliari. from Olbia: take the S.S. 199 and 597, then the S.S. 131 up to Cagliari. from Porto Torres: take the S.S. 131 up to Cagliari. from Cagliari: take the S.S. 125 Muravera direction, 200 meters beyond the milestone of 20 km,
just after a double curve, turn right onto a paved road and after about 100 meters turn right again on a side street leading to St. Peter's Paradise.
Paths around 800 meters turn right again on the road near "Pixina Nuxedda Saint Peter".
After 6 km it finally arrives at the tomb of giants, located on the right side of the road.
Currently, access is free.
Recent and Bronze Final
During the Late Bronze and Finale, however, we realized most of those places of worship at temples known as well,
where there were ceremonies connected with the cult of water. Sardinia is concerned, inter alia, the Mycenaean navigation,
which brings new people on the island, presumably attracted by its major mineral resources,
thanks to the drive due to imports of metal objects from Cyprus.
Characteristics of the first Iron Age production of manufactured bronze excellent level,
the development of weapons and ornaments, production of bronze statuettes, boats and other votive objects in miniature.
In the post-production phase of bronzes alongside Moreover, the construction of large stone statues.
Grave hypogeum painted of Mandra Antine - Thiesi (SS)
Necropolis of Puttu Codinu - Villanova Strisaili (NU)
The Giants' Grave of Marruscu - Villanova Strisaili (NU)
Necropolis hypogeum of Montessu - Villaperuccio (CA)
Necropolis hypogeum of St. Andrea Priu - 3000 -1800 B.C.
The necropolis is found next to Bonorva (Sassari). The archaeological site is constituted by a complex of "domus de janas", funeral buildings dug in the rock (from this the term hypogeum).
It belongs to the age near-eneolithic (3000 -1800
B.C.) and it belongs to the Culture of Ozieri.
The graves of this necropolis are been dug in a rock of red trachite and they had a funeral and sacred function,
these graves are also known with the name "Domus de Janas", as they are called in Sardinian language.
The literal translation could be: house of the fairies or the witches.
The necropolis is constituted by 20 graves in a series of communicating environments. Some reproduce (in natural greatness) the typology of the wooden hut and the house with roof to double slope;
others, have instead a more complex architecture with a semicircular atrium, the halo roof, the rooms with pillars and decorations destined to the rites, while the smallest rooms were used for burying the bodies of the dead ones.
Among the decorations it is possible to observe abstract signs, perhaps symbols of ancient prehistoric cults.
One of the graves are known as the "Grave of the Head", constituted by different communicating environments between them, it is not always accessible.
Above this enormous funeral complex it is present a rock that for his form she remembers the bull.
The graves have been reused, in following period, as place of cult in medieval epoch: of that period some frescos remain.
Information: how to reach the necropolises hypogeum of St. Andrea Priu from Cagliari: through the National Road
131 up to the km 162,5 on the alternative, are continued then for Bonorva, it is gone out of the country along the provincial one for Bono and to the km 6,8, on the right, it is continued on an not asphalted road.
2,6 kms, gone beyond later the church of Saint Lucy, it is reached the necropolis, placed on the left.
The necropolis and the Tophet of the ancient Phoenician city, in the island of the Sulcis
1.3.4 Villaperuccios Necropoli of Montessu
Situated Archaeological, period: Recent Neolithic Age (prenuragico)
In this vast site archaeological pre-Nuraghic you can admire a great variety of Domus de Janas. In the Necropolis of Montessu they are present all the typologies of funeral art that are developed in the different sites of Sardinia.
The present typologies to Montessu represent a lot of good the so-called Culture of St. Michael, developed him in Sardinia in the recent Neolithic Age and that it also contained the bases of the, perhaps more known, culture of the Nuraghes.
News and information
How to reach the Necropolis of Montessu
Departing from Sassari - National Road 131 release Samassi for Iglesias, Carbonia, Tratalias, Villaperuccio.
Departing from Cagliari - National Road 130 for Iglesias, Carbonia, Tratalias, Villaperuccio.
In alternative, always departing from Cagliari and following the coast road toward West:
Sarroch, Pula, Teulada, Santadi, Villaperuccio.
The Domus Necropoli de Janas of Montessu
The Necropolis is placed in the territory of Villaperuccio, to the center of the Sulcis, where, besides it is possible to enjoy of all the characteristics of the beauty and the culture that Sardinia is able to offer.
The Necropolis of Montessu is placed to the borders of the greatest natural forest of the Mediterranean, that of Santadi; Montessu is found, besides, next to the coast that is leaned out on the Gulf of Palmas,
this allows the visitors to enjoy, in an ampler context, of all that environmental benefits that the uncontaminated nature of the place can offer.
Among the numerous present graves in this site archaeological that denominated "the Small Church" it attracts our look thanks to his columns cleverly shaped inside the rock.
Necropolis of Montessu - the Small Church April, horrible photo in a day of rain
Unfortunately the day is worsened really while we were climbing for ours it visits to the necropolis, we have recovered only the photo with elaborations to give to you an idea of the importance of the site.
Further news on the Necropolis of Montessu (Villaperuccio)
Particularly suitable for how much they have a preference for calm, this place is able to offer a serene vacation, thanks to a social fabric that has known how to conjugate progress and tradition.
Another motive to know these places is represented by the possibility to spend a day dipped in the nature among oil you and secular Holm-oaks,
where a farsighted choice allows the inhabitants and the visitors to share the to flow some time that still follows the rhythms of an ancient sour-pastoral tradition.
All the places that have a very ancient tradition have a contour of fables and legends, Montessu not woods next to the amphitheater of Montessu, to the first lights of the dawn and the dusk, the ancient legend returns.
It seems to feel the fairies sing while they are plotting on their gold looms and for an instant the small caves dug in the rock they become again their ancient abodes.
Document date: 2000-2006 - Sardinia Information Section Archaeology
Who loves the war, he has not seen it in face (Erasmus from Rotterdam)
The path for the peace is the peace (M. K. Gandhi)
Fonte Notes
You cannot choose the country where to born, You cannot choose
the color of your skin, You cannot choose the relatives, but You can choose the
friends. Living means to choose, to decide what to do, every day.
Learning to smile
Art Culture Images and Sardinian Historical Notes
Last Updating: 2010-06-25
1.3.3 The Necropolis in Sardinia: some testimonies
