Nuragic Tombs of the Giants in Sardinia
Coddu Vecchiu Tomb of Giants
Tomba dei Giganti di Coddu Vecchiu is one of the larger ‘Giants’ tombs’ in Sardinia. It is remarkably well preserved. Located near the town of Arzachena, the funerary monument is one of a number of Nuragic archaeological sites in the area. It dates to the Bronze Age (around 2500 BC) and is fronted by an impressive 4 m high stone slab. The structure was used as a mass burial chamber and contains a series of megaliths which form a dolmen corridor. The site is surrounded by vineyards with the prestigious Capichera winery situated nearby.
Li Lolghi Tomb of Giants
Tomba Dei Giganti di Li Lolghi is one of the largest of the Tombs of Giants in Sardinia. Fourteen granite stele make up the curved façade that measures 17 m in total. The largest of these stones is 3.75 m high and 2.45 m wide. The passage tomb had multiple building phases, with the original structure thought to have been built as early as 1800 BC. The restored burial corridor, 13 m in length, was constructed sometime between 1400-1100 BC. Excavations during the 1950s and 1960s produced a range of interesting burial goods, including conical bowls and standing vases. The exaggerated proportions of this tomb make this one of most majestic and impressive Tomb of Giants in Sardinia, and is well worth a visit.
Tomb of Giants Imbertighe
In the flat countryside of the municipality of Borore, a very short distance from the town centre lies one of the island’s most characteristic Tombs of the Giants. It is dated to the Middle Bronze Age and, because of its fine quality, has been cited and studied several times, particularly between the 19th and 20th centuries, by influential scholars. We can still observe the large stele formed from a single block of finely worked basalt and the two wings of the exedra. Unfortunately, no trace remains of the inner chamber where the bodies were laid to rest. However, we can reconstruct its shape and original dimensions thanks to the work of Scottish archaeologist Duncan Mackenzie, who described and photographed the monument in the early 20th century.
Interactive Map of Tomb of the Giants in Sardinia
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The list above only includes the best and most easily accessible Nuraghe. For other types of Nuragic era sites, see our Guide to the Nuragic Civilisation. Or, jump straight to our Interactive Map of Nuragic Sites & Museums.
See our Sardinia Travel Guide for more on the art, archaeology and history of Sardinia. To find more sites and museums to add to your itinerary and travel lists, see our Interactive Map of Points of Interest and/or our A – Z list of Sites & Museums.
