Subjects
Subjects
The hypogeic necropolis of Montalè is located in the municipality of Sassari, about seven km from the city center, on the outskirts, close to the Li Punti district, within a large public space saved between the Medaglie d'Oro and Mario Carboni streets.
The hypogeic necropolis of Montalè consists of six burials dug into a limestone rock bench. The site dates back to the Final Neolithic (about 4000 BC) and was also reused in the Copper Age, up to about 2500 BC.
The area has been affected by strong anthropogenic actions, even recent, that have altered its shape: one of the domus de janas is partially destroyed, while three have been adapted to different uses that have modified its original plan; only two (the so-called “Tomb V” and the well-known “Tomb VI”) testify to the prehistoric phases. The so-called 'Tomb V', dug into the rock counter, is accessible through an east-facing causeway entrance that allows the entrance to a quadrangular antechamber, currently under the open sky due to the collapse of the ceiling.
The anticell has an entrance door that allows access to the main chamber, around which three cells are distributed, which in turn communicate with four other secondary environments, according to a “centripetal” development scheme.
The central compartment has a quadrangular plan (length 3.00 m; width 3.40 m; height approx. 1.25 m): in the center there is a pillar with a sub-rectangular section and the walls of the main chamber are decorated with low-relief figures representing six bullfighting protomes with an elongated trapezoidal snout and lunate horns, as well as by an additional protome, with only lunar horns, placed above the access door to the West cell. Because of the density of the decorative motifs, Tomb V is also known as the “Tomb of the Bullfighting Protomes”. The so-called 'Tomb VI' has a planimetric scheme 'with a longitudinal projection' as the entrance takes place along a corridor (dromos) with a length of about 7 meters. The burial is characterized by a main chamber devoid of decorative architectural elements (only simple molded frames) but it is also equipped with a central pillar; around it there are three side cells placed in a “T” shape, one of which has suffered structural damage due to the presence of quarrying activities in the immediate vicinity.
History of excavations
The necropolis, previously unknown even in literature, was discovered by chance only at the end of the Seventies of the last century.
It was immediately the subject of systematic archaeological investigations that lasted until 2001 by the Superintendence of Sassari: the archaeological excavation was conducted mainly by Dr. Paola Basoli and Alba Foschi, officials of the Ministry.
Bibliography
Regione Autonoma della Sardegna, Tomba a domus de janas – Sassari, in
"Sardegna Cultura – Catalogo dei Beni Culturali"
G. Tanda, Le domus de janas decorate con motivi scolpiti, Cagliari 2015.
L. Foddai, Necropoli ipogeica di Montalè-Sassari, in S. Castia, M. Forteleoni, G. N. Cabizza (a cura di), La misura del tempo. Archeologia e astronomia. Il Prenuragico, Vol. 8, Sassari 2011, p. 52.
G. M. Demartis, Tomba 5 di Montalé-Sassari, Necropoli di Su Crucifissu Mannu-Porto Torres, collana "Il triangolo della Nurra", 2/4, Viterbo 1998.
P. Basoli, A. Foschi Nieddu, La Tomba delle Protomi Taurine in località Montalé (Sassari), in "Rivista di Scienze Preistoriche", XL, Firenze 1986, pp. 317-325.
How to get there
The burial is located on the southern outskirts of the hamlet of Li Punti. Turn into Via Medaglie d'Oro at the CentroCasa store, at the beginning of Via Monte Tignosu, towards the Baldinca Restoration Center. Go all the way down the road and after four crossroads stop at the archaeological area fenced with chestnut poles and marked with a sign
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Structure category: archaeological area or park
Content type:
Archaeological monument
Archaeology
Usability: Open
Province: Sassari
Common: Sassari
Macro Territorial Area: Northern Sardinia
POSTAL CODE: 07100
Address: via Medaglie D'Oro, s.n.c. - località Li Punti
Telephone: +39 079 279977
E-mail: infosassari@comune.sassari.it
Information on tickets and access: Visits to the necropolis are possible only by reservation via email or telephone from Tuesday to Friday from 10:00 to 13:00.. Access to the necropolis is not easy due to the characteristics of the cockpit, with steep and slippery walls.
Access mode: For a fee
Tickets :
Services information: Guided tours by appointment only for groups and schools from Tuesday to Saturday, excluding holidays.
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Sassari, Necropoli Ipogeica di Montalè Images number: 3
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