Archaeology in Villasimius

Varie Domus de Janas Riso-Residence la Chimera

Archaeology in Villasimius: collage of photos of Domus de Janas of Rice Beach, by Nicola Piscedda.

The best excursions of archaeology of Southeast Sardinia. Villasimius is famous for its beaches, but also from a historical and archaeological point of view is a very interesting area.

Surely our zone has been inhabited since the Neolithic period, from about 6000 B.C. as witnessed by the remains of Neolithic settlements in the area of Capo Carbonara. Among the oldest evidence of human presence in the territory we find the Domus de Janas of Riso beach, dated to the culture of Ozieri of the fourth millennium A.C., these tombs have a very rare type with a megalithic corridor of access before the entrance of the tomb. The largest of the surviving domus graves is composed of two cells and of a quadrangular access door.

Cuili Piras-Residence la Chimera in Villasimius, Sardinia

Alignments of menhirs of Cuili Piras

More Domus de Janas are located in the tourist village of Monte Nai (Castiadas). In the same area, there are the extremely interesting alignments of menhirs of Cuili Piras, dated to 3000 A. C. and composed of 53 menhirs placed to form straight or curved alignments with a light astronomical observatory, and some authors suggest cultural contacts with the megalithic populations of Britain or Stonehenge. In neighboring Pranu is Scalas and Piscina Rei sites other alignments are respectively 43 and 22 menhir. In the area there are also various protonuraghi similar to culture Torrean of Corsica.

Cuili Piras3-Residence la Chimera

Archaeology in Villasimius: alignments of menhirs of Cuili Piras.

In the territory of Villasimius were reported by La Marmora various Tombs of the Giants, of which survive the remains of one, located near the restaurant “Su Giganti”, between Porto Sa Ruxi and Campus beach. The nuraghi reported in the area are numerous, ranging from Solanas, where there would be remains of a polylobated nuraghe, Nuraghe Giardone (near Villaggio dei Mandorli , with associated a megalithic gallery grave), two Nuraghes in Cuccureddus (700 m . from the residence), another in the highest point of the hill of Campulongu (350 m. from the residence), some maybe in the hills behind the golf, the nuraghes of Is Traias, Manunzas and Baccu’e Gattus.

Nuraghi Cuccureddus-Residence la Chimera

Archaeology in Villasimius: Two nuraghes of Cuccureddus, photos of Nicolas Piscedda. On the right you can see the background of Campulongu nuraghe

The best preserved can be found by going to Castiadas. The first of these is the nuraghe polylobate S’Omu e S’Orcu near Punta Santa Giusta and at Peppino rock, the largest of Sarrabus, consists of a central tower with a donjon trilobed, surrounded by a curtain wall of which remain five towers and a courtyard that incorporates part of the nuragic village surrounding the complex. For the moment this nuraghe is abandoned, but it is expected his excavation and recovery.

Nuraghe s'Omu e s'Orcu- Residence la Chimera Villasimius, Sardinia

Nuraghe s’Omu e s’Orcu

Probably Nuraghe Asoru was also a complex one, consisting of two smaller towers e a donjon, of which today there remains a height of 7 meters, but in the past was probably exceed 10 meters. The is easily visible from the S.S. 125 (is located at km. 51).

Nuraghe Asoru-Residence la Chimera

Nuraghe Asoru

Very interesting are the Phoenician and Roman archaeology of the Villasimius area, concentrated near the area of Cuccureddus On one of the crests of Cuccureddus was the Phoenician temple of Astarte, with a staircase leading down to the sea at the mouth of the riu Foxi, which had to form a natural harbor Constructed from the sixth century and destroyed by fire, probably Carthaginian era, of this period three rooms were found, easily recognizable on site and some finds preserved in the museum of Villasimius: various seals of official documents of the temple, some with a clear Egyptian influence, and many ex- vote, which range up to Roman times, when the temple was rebuilt.

Cuccureddus- Residence la Chimera

The remains of the Phoenician temple of Astarte in Cuccureddus (photo by Nicola Piscedda) In the box one of the votive offering in the Museum of Archaeology of Villasimius (photo by Elvira Marrone)

Also of the Roman times, near Cuccureddus, is the area the Baths of Santa Maria, near the namesake rural church, visible from the road from Cagliari to Villasimius, just before the junction for Campulongu. Of these baths remains is the room of calidarium dating from about the first century A.D. and some remains of the floor and building materials, was probably part of a rich country villa. Part of the decoration of the baths had to be the feminine statue of the first century d.C probably a Venus, which was preserved in the little country church, mistakenly considered a representation of the Virgin Mary
Santa Maria- Residence al Chimera

The country church of S. Maria and, beside, the archaeological remains of the Roman calidarium. In the box the roman statue that was considered a virgin Mary.

You can get A general idea of the rich archaeological heritage of the Sarrabus by visiting the  Museum of Archaeology of Villasimius, where, in addition to the artefacts found at the sites of which we already talked about, you can admire many interesting underwater archaeological finds, recovered from numerous wrecks found in the area of Capo Carbonara ranging from the third century. B.C. to the Byzantine period. Besides the numerous amphorae, Nuragic, Phoenician or Roman, and Roman building materials, we report the findings from the wreck of a Spanish ship wrecked near the island of Cavoli, dating from the first half of the fifteenth century, containing weapons, dishes and a load of tiles, glazed tiles decorated in blue tones, destined to decorate the patio of the home of a Spanish nobleman, who married the heir of a famous noble family of Palermo.
villasimius-sardegna-033

Some findings of the Museum of Archaeology of Villasimius. Photos of the web page of the museum.

The Museum of Archaeology of Villasimius is located in Via A. Frau, in a beautifully renovated country house, of which survive interesting architectural elements as a “ladiri”, a wall ofraw bricks of clay and straw.

For information you can contact:

Direction: 070.7930291

or the Guide Office: 070.7930290.

 

Fax 070 7928041
museo@villasimiusweb.com

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Web: David Oliveras