Fonni (Nuoro)
Madau
In the riu Madau valley, near Pratobello, four giants’ tombs arranged in an amphitheatre form an important Nuragic necropolis.
THE AMPHITHEATRE NECROPOLIS
The necropolis lies in the territory of Fonni, in the Barbagia di Ollolai, on a low plateau in the riu Madau valley.
Its main core comprises four giants’ tombs, dated 1350-1150 BC, arranged in an amphitheatre and facing south-east.
Today three giants’ tombs can be seen, with funerary chambers and large semicircular exedras in front of them.
Two burials are well preserved, while the fourth has not yet been explored.
MADAU
DATING
Recent-Final Bronze Age (1350-850 BC)
TYPE
Giants’ tombs necropolis
DIMENSIONS
Tomb II: over 22 m; funerary chamber 9 m
STATE OF PRESERVATION
To be defined
OTHER MONUMENTS AT THE SITE
Four giants’ tombs, exedras, carved stelae
FINDS
Nuragic pottery, bronze bracelets, glass-paste beads, trachyte betils
ENVIRONMENT
Riu Madau valley Barbagia di Ollolai
VISITABLE
To be defined
SERVICES
To be defined
ACCESSIBILITY
To be defined
THE SITE
Tombs II and III preserve traces of rebuilding over earlier burials. The large exedras, the offering benches and the hearth in front of Tomb II tell of the spaces used for funerary ceremonies.
THE TERRITORY
The riu Madau valley opens in the Barbagia di Ollolai, in a landscape of plateaus and pastures rich in Nuragic evidence.