Sa Figu Necropolis
Description
The necropolis of Sa Figu, the most important prehistoric heritage of the territory of Ittiri, is a place where the pre-Nuraghic remnants ‘merge’ with the Nuragic monuments. It extends along the northern edge of the Coros plateau that gives its name to a Logudorese sub-region. Four kilometres from the town, the archaeological area can be reached from the sanctuary of San Maurizio by climbing up to the peak. The complex is composed of eleven hypogea, a megalithic circle and the base of an archaic Nuraghe (or ‘protonuraghe’). It has survived at least three prehistoric eras: the late Neolithic (end of 4th millennium BC), when the first nucleus of Domus de Janas was excavated; the Eneolithic and Copper age; plus the Late and Mid Bronze, when hypogeum ‘architectural façades’ were widespread.
Of the sepultures of Sa Figu, three are simple and original Domus de Janas, two have a single cella and one had a number of cellae, with a Dromos (‘andito’), an anti-cella and a cella on which secondary areas open. At least three are expanded Domus, with additions to the façade of stele and exedra. Three are new set-ups or have been restructured in the Bronze Age. The largest tomb was originally composed of five rooms, becoming a single room following the demolition of the partition walls. An anti-cella with decorated walls leads into the cella where three rooms opened up. The hypogea have revealed a number of Nuragic finds, especially the famous bronze statuette of the launeddas player.