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Sardegna

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Vivere la campagna

The Archaeology

Medio Campidano - L'Archaeology
n. 26/2009 -

 

The roots of Sardinian identity can be traced back to the second millennium BC, which saw the spread throughout the island of a civilisation that stood apart from other Mediterranean cultures. It is not yet clear how Nuraghic civilisation developed or what external influences left their mark on it. What we do know is that the architectural phenomenon represented by the more than 8,000 nuraghi scattered over the whole island constitute a unique entity, unknown elsewhere. The first megalithic structures found date back to 1800 BC, and include the proto-nuraghe of Bruncu Madugui in the territory of Gesturi. What we see here is still a cone-shaped structure without roofing, but its construction technique and the position it occupies herald later nuraghi. It is indeed significant that a site was chosen which dominated a vast underlying area; from the edge of the Giara at a height of about 500 m it was possible to control a good part of the Marmilla. All the nuraghi were built on high ground, dominating the surrounding territory. Evolution of the building technique with the adoption of corbelled ceiling (tholos) covering the truncated cone tower can be dated some time round 1500 BC, when the main tower started to be flanked by two or more side towers (Iobes) of lesser height, and finally a lower outer ring of walls was added to provide additional defence. The result was an impressive structure (we can see some fine examples at Barumini, Gesturi, Villanovafranca, Mogoro and Villanovaforru, to name the most outstanding) in contrast with the humble villages huddled at the foot of what to all intents and purposes was the fortified dwelling of the clan chieftain. At the foot of the Giara stands the highest expression of Nuraghic civilisation, included in the UNESCO world heritage Iist: the Fortress of Su Nuraxi at Barumini, the most visited of all archaeological sites in Sardinia. Constructed starting from 1450 BC, it has a main keep 20 m high, 4 lateral towers 15m high and finally an outer defence work of 10 m. At its foot we find a village whose remains help us understand Nuraghic life and social organisation. A few hundred metres away we find Su Nuraxi e' cresia, since incurporated in a16th-century mansion, Casa Zapata. A visit to this monument is especially interesting and rewarding thanks to the modern walkways, providing a view from above of the powerful structures of the nuraghe, and to the showcases containing objects found during the excavations. Other outstanding Nuraghic complexes are those of Genna Maria at Villanovaforru and Su Mulinu at Villanovafranca. Both these nuraghi are set on high points, the first stands at 408 m asl, on one side looking out over the Marmilla, and from the other controlling the whole central Campidano plain as far as the Gulf of Oristano. A rich collection of findings bears witness to the excavation campaign and to the activities of the peoples who inhabited this site. The Su Mulinu nuraghe dates from about 1500 BC and offers an example of the various types of Nuraghic architecture which developed over time. Here aNuraghic altar dating from the early Iron Age has been found, where in al probability sacrificial rites took place. The cult of the dead of Neolithic populations (3rd century BC) is documented by the domus de janas,rock-cut tombs such as Sa Domu e S'Orcu at Setzu and Monte Luna at Senorbì. The heyday of the nuraghi also saw construction of the megalithic graves known as Tombs of the Giants. One impressive example is found at Siddi: its main body with apse is more than 15 m long, the rectangular burial chamber is slightly more than 1 m wide and 10 m long,• to the left is a cell perhaps reserved for the burial of high-ranking persons and to house funeral goods; the exedra-shaped front recalls the bull symbol. Another imposing Giants' Tomb is to be found at Gonnosfanadiga in the San Cosimo locality, while that at Lunamatrona, Su Cuaddu e Nixias, is striking for its stele with cornice, double lintel and doorway, at Collinas we find two tombs side by side at Sedda e sa Caudeba. The best preserved monument bearing witness to the high quality achieved by religious architecture of this period is the sacred well of Santa Anastasia at Sardara. The cult of the waters, widespread throughout the island, generated important monuments. The complex at Sardara, set in a fascinating natural landscape, consists of a vestibuIe at ground level, opening towards the exterior, and a single flight of steps leading to the bottom of a chamber with corbelled ceiling where opens the well. Many of the findings discovered during excavations are on show in the Villa Abbas Museum at Sardara. In the second half of the first millennium BC, Nuraghic civilisation came into contact firstly with the Phoenicians and then with the Carthaginians, who frequented the coasts of Sardinia and founded several towns, but usually without penetrating the island's hinterland. In the Medio Campidano too we have found traces of these two peoples. A large necropolis has been discovered at Villamar right in the town's centre, near the Maiorchino neighbourhood: numerous chamber tombs have come to light, mostly intact and with funerary goods consisting of pottery and amulets. A short distance further on (20 km) in the territory of Senorbì we find, in the Su Teru locality, the important necropolis of Monte Luna, dating back to the 5th and 6th centuries BC. It consists of underground tombs cutt into the limestone and tufa. Excavations have brought to light numerous shaft graves with side cells, trough graves, box graves and stone cist graves. A rich collection of funerary goods (pottery, jugs, oil lamps, jewels and ornaments) are on display at the National Museum in Cagliari and the Senorbì Museum. The subsequent period of Roman domination is also well represented in many places in the Province, the most important being the town of Santa Maria di Neapolis in the territory of Guspini (Sant'Antonio of Santadi) on the shores of the San Giovanni marsh. Three km from Sardara, the ancient bath complex (3rd - 1st centuries BC), Aquae Neapolitane mentioned by Ptolemy, is still
in use and is today known as the Terme di Santa Maria Acquas.