right|thumb|340px|Aerial view of the Giant's grave of Sa Domu 'e S'Orcu in [[Siddi, Sardinia|Siddi.]]

Giants' grave (; or ) 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.

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

right|500px|thumb|Coddu Vecchju - [[Arzachena]]

thumb|Plan and sections

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).

thumb|left|Graphic reconstruction

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 regenerative cycle of rebirth after death.

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).

thumb|Geographical distribution of the Giant tombs in Sardinia

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

<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

</gallery>

References

  • Giants' Tomb in Sardinian archaeology