Giants' grave

Giants' tomb (Italian: '' Tomba dei giganti'', Sardinian: ''Tumba de zigantes'' / ''gigantis'') is the name given by local people and archaeologists to a type of Sardinian megalithic gallery grave built during the Bronze Age by the Nuragic civilization. They were collective tombs and can be found throughout Sardinia, with 800 being discovered there. Aspetti e problematiche del rituale funarario di età nuragica
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A stone cairn lies over the burial chambers, with some examples having a cup-shaped entrance similar to the court cairn tombs of Ireland.

Types

There are two general types of giants' tomb. In the so-called "slab type", uncut slabs are buried on end in the ground, and are arranged side-by-side. There is usually a central stele, which is the largest slab (up to 4 m in height) and has a doorway cut through it.

In the more primitive slab-type giants tombs, the central slab is unmodified aside from the entrance that is cut through it at the base, or else there is a crude dolmen-like arrangement of 3 uncut rocks to form the entrance (Osono, Sortali, Lolghi, Pescaredda). In more advanced slab-type giants tombs, the central slab is modified so as to be rounded on top, and has a simple design carved into the front surface (Dorgali, Goronna, Santu Bainzu, Coddu Vecchju).

The sepulchres have a characteristic rectangular plan with an apse. The burial chamber is usually 5 to 15 metres long and 1 to 2 metres high. The structures were originally covered by a mound resembling the shape of an overturned ship. Near the entrance an obelisk (''betile'' in Sardinian) is usually found, which symbolizes the gods or ancestors who watched over the dead.

The so-called "block type" tombs are made of rectangular-cut blocks (Bidistili, Madau II, Seleni II, Iloi, Mura Cuata).

There are also structures similar to the block-type giants tombs on the island of Malta, in the United Kingdom and in Menorca ( naveta)Giovanni Lilliu, La civiltà nuragica, Sassari 1982 p.54

List of major tombs

*'' Su Mont'e s'Abe'', near Olbia
*'' Sa Dom'è s'Orcu'', near Quartucciu
*Two 18th-century BC tombs near Lanusei
*''Aiodda'', near Nurallao
*'' Coddu Vecchiu'' and '' Li Lolghi'', Arzachena
*'' Sa Dom'è s'Orcu'', Siddi
*Imbertighe, Borore
*Madau, Fonni
*Muraguada, Bauladu
*Osono, near Triei
*Tomb of San Cosimo, near Gonnosfanadiga
*'' S'Ena'e Thomes'', Dorgali
*Bainzu, Borore
*''Sa Farch'e S'Artare'', Seneghe

See also

* Nuraghe
* Naveta

Image gallery

File:La_protome_taurina.jpg, Giant's grave of S'Arena, Urzulei
File:Calangianus_-_Tomba_dei_giganti_di_Pascaredda_(41).JPG, Giant's grave of Pascaredda, Calangianus
File:Tomba_dei_Giganti_Is_Concias.jpg, Giant's grave of Is Concias, Quartucciu
File:Li Lolghi 11.JPG, Giant's grave of Li Lolghi, Arzachena
File:Madau.JPG, Giant's grave of Madau, Fonni
File:Tomba dei Giganti Barrancu Mannu.jpg, Giant's grave of Barrancu Mannu, Santadi
File:Complesso nuragico.JPG, Giant's grave of Lu Brandali, Santa Teresa Gallura
File:Tomba dei Giganti Iloi 02 B.jpg, Iloi
File:Tomba dei Giganti Iloi 02 - Camera.jpg, Iloi 2
File:Tomba giganti San Cosimo.jpg, Giant's grave of San Cosimo, Gonnosfanadiga

References

External links

Giants' Tomb in Sardinian archaeology
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Buildings and structures in Sardinia
Archaeology of Sardinia
Archaeology of death
Burials in Sardinia
Burial monuments and structures
Megalithic monuments in Italy
Prehistoric sites in Italy
Tourist attractions in Sardinia
Archaeological sites in Sardinia