Putifigari, Necropolis of Mount Siseri

The necropolis is excavated in an outcrop of tuff rock, on the slopes of Mount Siseri, in an area on the border between Nurra, the Villanova Monteleone plateau and the Logudoro, in northwestern Sardinia.
The necropolis consists of four domus de janas, of which the “tomb of painted architecture” is particularly famous, characterized by relief and painted decorations. The hypogeum, with a 'T' planimetric development, consists of a long 'dromos' ending in a rectangular atrium, an anticell, a central cell and two lateral compartments. The atrium has architectural decorations in flat relief on the walls: it is a plinth connected by four pilasters to a double horizontal band under the ceiling. The antechamber, with a quadrangular plan, is accessible through an east-facing door, with a threshold plane painted red. A step-seat allows you to overcome the difference in height between the two rooms. At the base of the walls of the antechamber there is a narrow flat frame, while on the ceiling - which remains only in part - there is a double-sloped roof with three relief beams painted in black. On the side walls there are two false doors painted red, one on each side, delimited by a large frame and provided within double recessed frames and a central horizontal strip. The false doors are surmounted by triple curved “boat” horns all over the wall. The large central cell, with a rectangular plan (width 5.90 m; length 3.30 m; height 2.20 m), has a double-sloped ceiling carved in flat relief: the central beam and the transverse joists, seven on each side, are painted black, while the side beams in contact with the walls and the spaces between the joists are painted red. In the center of the compartment are placed two quadrangular pillars that have stylized taurine protomes carved in relief on two sides. In the center of the floor there is a ritual hearth with four concentric circular frames and, in the center, a hemispherical cup (diam. m 1.00). The wall opposite the entrance shows a false door with a double frame recessed and surmounted by triple curvilinear horns (length 5.85 m). Another pair of horns is represented on the sides of the door. On the side walls, the entrances to the secondary rooms open; the doors are decorated with a large triple recessed frame. The two side rooms have a quadrangular plan and ornate walls; a small elliptical alcove opens up in the left compartment. Outside the hypogeum, along the rock bank, numerous irregular cups and tubs have been dug, sometimes interconnecting, as well as a system of channels that prevented rainwater from entering the burial.
The tomb can be dated to the final Neolithic - Eneolithic.

History of excavations
The 'tomb of painted architecture' was excavated in 1989 by Giovanni Maria Demartis.

Bibliography
G. M. Demartis, “Tomb of Painted Architecture or of S'Incantu. Putifigari (Sassari). Locality of Monte Siseri”, in Bulletin of Archaeology, 4, June-July 1990, pp. 107-110;
G. M. Demartis, “The Tomb of Painted Architecture. A Neolithic Hypogeum of Putifigari”, in Bulletin of Archaeology, 7, January-February 1991, pp. 1-21;
G. M. Demartis, Le Domus de Janas della Nurra, Piedimonte Matese, Imago Media, 2001, p. 95.

How to get there
Starting from the SS 131 at the height of Sassari, take the SS 127bis in the direction of Uri. Just lap the town and continue on the same road until the intersection on the left with the SP 12, which leads directly to Putifigari. At the junction, however, you continue straight ahead for about 400 m, then turn left into the old road serving the dam. After 250 m, turn right on a small country road that crosses a narrow bridge. Proceed for about 1 km, along the valley floor, to the point where the road bends decidedly to the right to go up the hill. Leave the car and walk through the fields towards S/O, for about 600 m, until you reach the other side of the hill, where the necropolis is located.