Arzachena, Tomb of the Giants by Li Lolghi

The tomb is located in the Gallura hinterland, about 10 km from the Gulf of Arzachena. It stands in a slightly raised position in a gentle hilly landscape covered by Mediterranean scrub. It is among the most beautiful and famous giant tombs in Sardinia.
Well preserved and exceptionally long (about 27 m), it is built of granite and is oriented N/NO-S/SE, with an entrance to S/SE.
The façade consists of a large exedra that delimits the semicircular space where funeral rites and ceremonies related to the cult of ancestors took place. It is made up of 14 vertically fixed slabs, with an increasing height from the sides towards the center, where the very accurate curved stele stands out, 3.75 m high, with an arched end and a small door at the base (width 0.40-0.50 m; h m 0.50-0.60). The perimeter profile of the stele is decorated with a relief frame, while the mirror is divided into two parts by a transverse strip.
Behind the portal, the burial corridor develops, contained within an apsidic building body that, in its original integrity, must have the shape of an inverted ship's keel. The corridor, originally covered with a flat plate, is 9.60 m long and about 1 m wide; it is lined with knife-cut plates and dry stone masonry. In the back wall of the room, a slab placed horizontally creates a division into two floors, a sort of newsstand for the presentation of offers or perhaps protective images.
Later, at a raised level of 0.80 m, there is a rectangular Sunday view, 3.70 m long and 0.95 m wide, with a paved floor bordered by orthostatic slabs. The cist, older than the rest of the plant, originally had to be covered by a mound of earth and crushed stone, of which the ellipsoid-shaped containment peristalite is preserved, visible in the back of the tomb. The monument therefore has two phases of construction and use. The first phase consists of the dolmenic coast and refers to the culture of Bonnanaro (ancient bronze XXI-XIX century BC), as demonstrated by the finds inside (a spear cusp, cups and small vases adorned with peducci). The second phase, which saw the installation of the entire apsidate body and the exedra, and which incorporated the dolmenic cist and the entire structure into a single mound, can instead be dated between the 18th and 14th centuries BC (during the Middle Bronze Age), the oldest period of the Nuragic civilization. This refers to pots, bowls, pans and vessels with vertical triangular ribs, found during excavations.
The monument was still used in the late Bronze Age (XII-X century BC).

History of excavations
It was tested in 1959 by Delia Lollini and thoroughly excavated in 1965 by Editta Castaldi. It is among the most beautiful and famous giant tombs in Sardinia.

Bibliography
E. Castaldi, "Tombe di giganti nel Sassarese", in Origini, III, 1969, pp. 120-132, 157-164, 192-198;
E. Castaldi, Arzachena. Monumenti archeologici. Breve itinerario, Sassari, Carlo Delfino, 1984.

How to get there
The archaeological site of Li Lolghi is located in Li Muri, about 9 km from Arzachena. It can be reached by taking the provincial road to Luogosanto (SP14) or the one to Bassacutena (SP115). The Li Muri necropolis (and its ticket office) is about 1 km away.

Tag

Structure category: archaeological area or park

Content type: Archaeological monument
Archaeology

Usability: Open

Province: Sassari

Common: Arzachena

Macro Territorial Area: Northern Sardinia

POSTAL CODE: 07021

Address: SP 115 per Luogosanto, km 45 - località M.Giu di Li Lolghi

Telephone: +39 345 7200380 +39 345 7200094 +39 0789 83401 +39 0789 82106

E-mail: archeologia@gesecoarzachena.it

Website: www.gesecoarzachena.it

Maggio - September

Monday - Tuesday - Wednesday - Thursday - Friday - Saturday - Sunday

10:00 AM - 7:30 PM

October - April

Tuesday - Wednesday - Thursday - Friday - Saturday - Sunday

10:00 AM - 4:00 PM

Information on tickets and access:

The schedules may change: we recommend that you always consult the website of the managing body. For always updated information on tickets, given the variety of visit combinations and cumulative offers, please refer to the dedicated web-ticket page on the manager's website.

Access mode: For a fee

Services information: Guided tours are included in the ticket price, upon reservation, or by asking the ticket office for departure times. Audio guides are also available.

Update

25/7/2025 - 10:21

Services

Audiooguide