The hypogeal necropolis of Sa Figu, Ittiri (Sassari-Sardinia-Italy)
The
prehistoric and protohistorical hypogeal necropolis of Sa Figu is
located in the northern side of the Coros plateau, north-east from the Ittiri
village (Sassari-Sardinia-Italy) very close to another important necropolis of
rock-cut tombs so-called “domus de janas”
(meaning
Houses
of the Fairies in the local language): the Ochila necropolis. As it concerns the
chronologic sequence of Sardinian pre-history we make reference to the Chronological
Table.
In
1962 the presence of four tombs in this area, which were previously violated,
was reported by E. Contu. The escavations of tombs labelled as I and III brought
to light materials of the Middle Bronze age. Starting from 2001, new
archaeological escavations were undertaken which have so far involved tombs II,
IV, V, VIII, IX, X and the near "megalithic circle".
Thus,
the hypogeic necropolis of Sa Figu currently includes 11 existing tombs and only
traces of some others destroyed. At least six phases of use followed one another
in this funerary area, starting from the neolithic period and ending with later
sporadic reuse during the Roman age.
In
the first period, corresponding to the escavation of the "domus de
janas" hypogea, which is dated back to the Late Neolithic age (during the
“Ozieri culture”), tombs I, II, III, VI, IX, X and XI were likely realized.
In
the second period, corresponding to the Copper age, analogously to what happened
in other Sardinian “domus de janas", the hypogeic tombs of Sa Figu were
again used as burial grave, without any meaningful change in the funerary rite.
The
third phase of the necropolis use involves the Early Bronze age, with the latest
moment of the local “Bonannaro Culture” (so-called "Sant'Iroxi"
phase): evident traces of this period emerged during the excavation of tomb IX.
Nevertheless,
the most interesting monumental aspect is represented by the fourth occupation
phase of the area, which is occurring at the beginning of nuragic era (Middle
Bronze age I and II, 1700-1300 B. C.). In this period, the so-called “giant
tombs” appear in the centre-northern Sardinia, which are characterized by
orthostatic structures and arched steles in the middle of the ceremonial exedra.
In the north-western side of Sardinia, within a restricted area, this kind of
giant tomb has been mainly excaved in limestone rocks, thus providing hypogeic
funerary rooms (called hypogea with “architectural prospect”). This was
frequently done reusing previous domus de janas. In the necropolis of Sa Figu
the evidence suggests that three pre-existing domus de janas (tombs II, III and
VI) were enlarged and transformed into “domus with architectural prospect”,
with the addition in the frontal façade of the typical elements of the giant
tombs: arched stele ("stele centinata"), semicircular hexedra and
upper tumulus. Conversely, tombs IV, V, VII and VIII were excaved ex-novo.
The
fifth phase of the necropolis use is relevant to sporadic uses in the Late
Nuragic period (Late Bronze age and First Iron Age), X-VII century B. C.