Nuragic Village of Barumini

Nuragic Village of Barumini

The Sardinia beyond the coasts and beaches of unparalleled beauty and tradition of cooking truly sublime in its simplicity, retains many important structures in terms of historical and archaeological evidence.

Symbol are the Nuraghes of Sardinia, an important reference to ancient civilizations.

They were important megalithic edifices found in Sardinia, dating back 1000 BC. The interest of archaeologists for this construction goes back to the sixteenth century, but only in the nineteenth century  began scientific researches.

One of the most glaring was the Barumini one, due to the excavations conducted by the archaeologist John Lilliu between 1951 and 1956.

Nuraxi of Barumini is the most complete and best preserved dolmen, while the complex of these monuments, scattered over the whole territory of Sardinia and exclusive island, is one of the most significant evidence of prehistoric culture in the Mediterranean area.

Nuraghes were defensive towers in the shape of a truncated cone made of large boulders dry, with living rooms and roofs from time to pseudocupola. Some nuraghes, as in the village of Barumini, are placed within enclosures made of smaller towers, connected by massive walls.

The former central defensive structures, dating between 1500 and 800 BC. It seems they were built by families or clans that lived in isolation. Between the VIII and the X century BC, an era in which the invasions began, Carthaginians were reinforced defensive systems of Barumini and people seeking protection cluster around these massive stone fortresses.

In the most advanced stage dolmen is turned into a fortified village, within which lives the chieftain or prince that offers protection to the neighboring village. Were really small urban settlements, inhabited by families of soldiers and artisans. During the seventh century BC Barumini was devastated by the Carthaginians and its defensive system virtually destroyed.

Nevertheless, the settlement was preserved and the houses rebuilt, although with a different style. The main feature of the complex of Barumini is its massive central tower, built with large stones to dry. Inside there are three rooms, placed each in a different level and connected by a spiral staircase. Originally the tower was for more than 18 meters in height.