Mamoiada, Necropolis of Sa Conchedda Istevene

The tombs are dug into the granite mountain buttress that closes the Istevene basin to SE, in the Barbagia di Ollolai, in the center of Sardinia.
The small necropolis is known for the presence, in one of the tombs, of symbolic elements (a bullfighting protome, engravings and some cups and dimples), a rather rare fact in the Domus de Janas in the Nuoro area. The complex includes six small hypogeums, two of which are more similar to niches than to real burial rooms. The burials open at different heights on the rocky front and have an access compartment - generally consisting of a short corridor (“dromos”) or an atrium - which, by eliminating the inclination and irregularities of the rock plane, has made it possible to have a vertical surface suitable for excavating the entrance door. Tomb I consists of a short “dromos”, on the back wall of which a quadrangular door opens (width m 0.77; height m 0.42) that leads into a first rectangular compartment (width m 1.75; depth m 2.25; height m 0.90), now in the open air. On the upper wall of the room, the entrance to a second, always rectangular room (width 2.30 m; depth 1.90 m; height 0.88 m). Tomb II, with a triangular “dromos” plan, has an elliptical compartment with a kiln vault (m 2.20 x m 1.80; height 1.00 m) that preserves a shallow concavity at the bottom (width m 0.45; height m 0.51). On the s. side, the entrance (width m 0.66; height m 0.80) of a second cell (m 2.15 x m 1.00; height m 0.90) opens, which leads - through a hatch that is now wide (width m 1.50; height m 0.80) - into a third quadrangular room (m 2.45 x m 1.32; height m 0.90). Tomb III is certainly the most interesting of the complex due to the presence of symbolic elements carved on the walls. The burial has an access atrium, on whose main and back walls there are two doors that lead to two cells connected to each other by means of an opening. The room in s. — accessible through a quadrangular entrance (width m 0.43; height m 0.63) — has a rectangular plan (width m 3.30; depth m 2.25; height m 1.54) with well-finished walls and ceiling. The cell with entrance to the back wall (width 0.55 m; height 0.60 m), rectangular in plan, is divided into two sectors by a step (height 0.47 m). The walls of the room still have traces of red plaster, while vertical incisions are carved on the d. side and on the entrance wall, a circular cup (diam. cm 12; depth cm 8). Some circular dimples (diam. cm 17; depth cm 8) are dug into the floor. In the center of the compartment, a rectangular pillar (width 0.40 m; depth 0.16 m) is spared, with a bullfighting protome - of a schematic type - in relief on the larger side.
Tombs IV, V and VI are single-celled: Tomb IV and Tomb VI are similar to a niche (prof. m 1.00) with an irregular opening (width m 0.67; height m 0.73), while tomb V preserves a small curvilinear compartment (m 0.96 x m 0.97; height m 0.77) which can be accessed through an opening that is now wide (width m 0.52; height m 0.72).
The necropolis dates back to the final Neolithic (culture of Ozieri, 3200-2800 BC), Eneolithic.

History of the excavations
The necropolis has been known since Taramelli reports.

Bibliography
Ministry of Education, List of Monumental Buildings, Rome, Type Operaia Romana Cooperativa, 1922, p. 108;
A. Taramelli, “Sheet 207, Nuoro”, in Edition of the Archaeological Map of Italy, Florence, Military Geographic Institute, 1931, p. 13 n. 13;
E. Melis, Charter of the Nuraghs of Sardinia, Spoleto, Graphic Arts Panetto & Petrelli, 1967, pp. 29, 32-33; V. Santoni, “Preliminary note on the type of artificial funerary caves in Sardinia”,
in Archivio Storico Sardo, XXX, 1976, pp. 42, 45, 48;
G. Lilliu, The Sardinian Civilization from the Paleolithic to the Nuraghi Age, Turin, Nuova ERI, 1988, pp. 85, 215;
C. Bittichesu, The Tomb of Busoro in Sedilo and Nuragic Funerary Architecture, Sassari, Lorziana, 1989, p. 22.

How to get
From Mamoiada, proceed in the direction of Fonni on the SS 389 for about 3 km; at km 119, there is a small gate on the left: pass it and proceed to the right going up a slight hill, until you find the domus de janas, immediately visible.