Siddi, Tomb of the Giants Sa Domu 'e S' Orku

The monument is located on the small basaltic plateau of “Su Pranu”, not far from the complex nuraghe “Conca Sa Cresia”.
The tomb of the giants Sa Dom 'e S'Orcu is one of the best preserved Nuragic monuments. Built on a slight rise in the ground, it is of the type facing exedra in rows. The apsidated tomb, arranged along the SE-NO axis, is 15.20 m long. The masonry consists of well-worked medium-sized basalt blocks arranged in regular rows. In some places of the masonry, the use of bunting wedges is observed. The exedra, in a discreet state of preservation until the 40s of the twentieth century, is now partially restored by a restoration work carried out by the Superintendence of Archaeology of Cagliari, which became necessary due to the ruinous collapse of some blocks of the façade. The peculiarity of this exedra (18.00 m wide), with its curvilinear shape and originally marginalized by a seat counter of which few traces remain, derives from the fact that the blocks that make up the three basic rows are smaller in size than those that constitute the upper rows. A slight saw, present at the top of the central block of the fifth row, suggests that the missing block of the sixth row could have been bent. The entrance to the monument (1.00 m wide), oriented SE, opens at the center of the exedra and is surmounted by a sturdy lintel marked in the center by a deep cleft. Immediately after the entrance there is, on the left, an elevated niche that measures 1.50 x 0.80 x 1.10 m high. The wall work of the burial chamber, with a rectangular plan (10.00 x 1.25 m wide) and a truncated ogival section (2.50 m high), consists of parallelepiped blocks of smaller dimensions in the basic rows - stuffed to regulate the support floors - projecting and arranged in regular rows. The headboard wall is given by a single plate fixed with a knife.
The stratigraphic excavation has highlighted a bed of small pebbles, on which lay the fragmentary remains of the grave goods consisting mainly of ceramic finds attributable to the Middle Bronze (16th century BC). The removal of the cobblestone has highlighted a layer of earth and small stones 20 centimeters thick. This layer leveled the slab platform that serves as the base of support for the tomb. Traces of carbon could be documented above this pavement. It has been hypothesized that, based on what was found in the excavation of similar monuments, the burial chamber could contain up to three hundred deposits, accumulated progressively in the time following its construction. Unfortunately, no bone fragments were found. Although the practice of collective burial seems to have failed at the beginning of the first millennium BC, the Dom'e S'Orcu tomb was used — as evidenced by a fragment of a bowl with an inscription in Neopunic characters and the remains of fine ceramics from Republican and Roman canteens, even during the Carthaginian and Roman domination. The discovery of 18th century Savoy coins suggests that from that date on, the burial was included in a shelter enclosure for the sheep that grazed on the plateau.

History of excavations
The monument was excavated by U. Badas.

Bibliography
A. Moravetti, Tombs and Funerary Ideology, in AA.VV., The Nuragic Civilization, Milan 1990, p. 145, figg. 163-164;
U. Badas, Dom'e S'Orcu in Pran'e Siddi, in G. Serreli-D. Vacca (edited by), Aspects of Prehistoric Megalitism, Dolianova 2001, pp. 13-15.

How to get there
From Cagliari or Sassari, follow the SS 131 to Sardara, at 53,000 km; proceed to Collinas, then to Villanovaforru (a ring road avoids crossing the town), Lunamatrona and finally the junction for Suelli. About 950 m from the junction, just before entering the town, you leave the main road and turn left into the ring road that avoids the town. Proceed exactly for 3.6 km, then turn right into the road, with a concrete bottom, which goes into the “Giara di Siddi” and which runs for about 2.5 km, until it borders on the archaeological area.

Tag

Structure category: archaeological area or park

Content type: Archaeological monument
Archaeology

Usability: Open

Province: South Sardinia

Common: Siddi

Macro Territorial Area: South Sardinia

POSTAL CODE: 09020

Address: località Pranu Siddi

Telephone: +39 070 939888 +39 347 5116787

E-mail: coopvillasilli@gmail.com

Website: www.museoparcosiddi.it/escursioni/luoghi-di-interesse

Facebook: www.facebook.com/cooperativa.villasilli

Information on tickets and access: The area is currently not managed, nor manned on site, and can be visited freely; however, it is possible to take advantage of guided tours, by booking them in advance, at the Villa Silli Cooperative, which independently carries out guided excursions on the site. The cost of guided tours organized by the Villa Silli cooperative is a total of €20.00 for individuals or groups of up to 20 people, and €1.00 per person for groups over 20 units.

Update

27/1/2026 - 15:00

Services

Guided tours