The basalt structure of Sa Domu 'e S'Orcu

Located at an altitude of about 360 meters in the plateau of the Giara di Siddi, Sa Domu 'e S'Orcu is a well-preserved archaeological monument. Datable to 1500-1300 BC, the structure is constructed from large blocks of basalt extracted from the surrounding plateau. It sits in an area characterized by the presence of fourteen nuraghi.

The monument features a structure almost completely intact, with the basalt blocks finely carved and worked throughout. The burial body measures 15.20 meters long and is arranged along a southeast-northwest axis. In front of the structure lies an esplanade - a semicircular area 18 meters wide - where rituals related to the cult of the dead are presumed to have taken place.

The burial has a classic shape of a taurine protome, typical of the prehistoric period, which closes in a semicircle at the rear. The rectangular funerary chamber is about 10 meters long and includes a niche on the left side, possibly used for holding funerary or votive offerings. The roof is characterized by large flat granite slabs resting on the structure, while the floor was covered with river pebbles upon which the deceased were laid.

Sources: Wikimedia Commons, Wikidata, Wikipedia