Across the Mediterranean island of Sardinia exist megalithic marvels dating back nearly 4000 years.
These mostly limestone structures are believed to belong to a civilization today known as the Nuragic people or “nuraghe”.
These buildings are mainly made of limestone.
Before Sardinia was occupied by the more modern Spanish, Byzantine, Roman, and Carthaginian civilizations, the mysterious Nuragic civilization flourished on the island from the 18th to the 3rd centuries BC. original.
Very little is known about this ancient civilization as they had no written language and left very few items that provide evidence of how they lived. Even the name Nuragic is a term used based on the description of the fortress-like structures they once built, called Nuraghe. These towering, sturdy structures were built during the Bronze Age and are scattered throughout Sardinia, totaling about 7000 structures.
The Su Nuraxi site is found in the central area of the island, Barumini. The clue to its importance lies in the name itself. It is the most famous nuraghe in Sardinia and the only UNESCO site on the island.
Su Nuraxi is the most famous nuraghe in Sardinia.
It was the site first discovered by archaeologist Giovanni Lilliu and led to his later discovery of the Nuragic civilization. It consists of a complex of houses as well as a village with huts. It appears to have been an important center of power and commerce in prehistoric times.
Structures made from volcanic basalt of nearby origin have been active for more than 2000 years from the sixteenth century BC to the seventh century AD. The complex consists of towers with a fortress at the four corners. A village of 50 huts sprang up around this central structure.
This tower used to be 18.5 meters high and was built in the Middle Bronze Age, consisting of 3 rooms on 3 floors, the top is a false dome, the wooden roof is also used for other buildings in the village.
Nuraghe Palmavera similar to all nuraghe structures is one of the largest and most important examples. It sits on the Palmera headland, overlooking a bay that the Romans romantically called “the Harbor of the Nymphs” near the modern seaside resort town of Alghero.
Nuraghe Palmavera is located on the Palmera cape.
Researchers believe that Nuraghe Palmavera was built in stages starting in the 15th century BC with a main tower nearly 8 meters high, 10 meters in diameter, including honeycomb-shaped roofs. It is estimated that a village had 150-200 huts surrounding the tower, today only 50 of them remain. A new phase of development was completed in the 9th century BC with the addition of an external wall and additional huts.
Although built of limestone and sand blocks, Nuraghe Palmavera was destroyed by fire in the 8th century AD, but parts of the structure remained intact. Today, this complex of Nuraghe is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Sardinia, along with the Nuragic ensemble of Barumini, which was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1997.
Nuraghe of Santu Antine is considered a giant among giants.
This Naraghe is considered a giant among giants, with the central tower once measuring between 23 and 24 meters and being the tallest nuraghe of them all. Santu Antine is located in the province of Sassari, northwest of the island of Sardinia, near the town of Torralba.
The Nuraghe La Prisgiona site is about 5 hectares wide and includes 90 Bronze Age buildings that have been excavated to date and the buildings surrounding the main building are very well preserved. The main building is three classical nuraghe towers with courtyards. The site is located in Arzachena, near the Costa Smeralda northeast of Sardinia.
Nuraghe Losa is an exceptional and well-preserved nuraghe located near the village of Abbasanta, the central-western region of Sardinia. During the Roman period, it was used for fuel purposes.
Nuraghe Losa has a triangular shape and can be compared to the bow of a ship.
The most notable thing about Nuraghe Losa is that it has a triangular shape and can be compared to the bow of a ship. The construction technique of Nuraghe Losa had achieved some refinement at this time, XIV – XV centuries BC.
There is a main entrance raised above ground, through which a corridor leads to three of the inner towers. The fourth tower has a separate entrance. These towers are not clearly visible from the outside as the whole appears as a solid block of rock. Why it is thought that such a fortification is needed is still a mystery.
The main watchtower has a small spiral ramp leading to an upper room. There are also 3 wells for storage and a water tank in the west tower.
While the Nuragic civilization may have gone extinct and the stories of their history are now legends, the magnificent stone structures they left behind are testament to a powerful society. with an extreme defensive inclination.