Necropoli di Montessu

The pre-Nuragic necropolis of Montessu is located in the territory of Villaperuccio in southern Sardinia and extends for about one kilo meter on a trachytic hillside where excavations begun in 1972 continue to this day. It is the largest necropolis on the island with about forty domus de janas with a varied plan and very different dimensions. Some are decorated with motifs engraved in relief: the "tomb of the spirals", for example, has wolf teeth, spirals, a bull protome, candlestick motifs and a false door on the bottom in the antechamber, the "tomb of the horns" instead is characterized by horns of various shapes carved on the vault and on the step at the entrance. However, they are for the most part multicellular with vestibule, main chamber or more chambers equipped with niches and cupels, enriched by rough-hewn columns and engraved walls.