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Archaeological area of Mont'e Prama - Cabras

An archaeological site, not open to the public, in which excavations are under way that have led to the discovery of the Mont'e Prama statuary complex, known as "the Giants of Mont'e Prama".
The necropolis of Mont'e Prama is located at the base of the hill of the same name, about 2 km from the Cabras Pond along the road that leads from San Salvatore to Riola Sardo. The site was discovered by chance in March 1974 by farmers doing agricultural work. Several excavation and recovery works followed, between 1975 and 1979, conducted by the Soprintendenza per i Beni Archeologici di Cagliari e Oristano (Superintendence for the Archaeological Heritage of Cagliari and Oristano) and by the University of Cagliari, and then again, starting from 2014, again by the Soprintendenza and the University of Sassari. The sculptural complex consists of 28 statues identified so far, all fragmentary, representing 16 boxers, 5 archers and 5 warriors. The boxers are wearing kilts and are shirtless. They protect their heads with a shield held by the left hand at the top of the head, while the right hand, protected by a glove, holds the other side of the shield. The archers, who wear a short tunic and a chest protector, have a two-horned helmet on their head with long braids sprouting out of it. The left arm, protected by a sheath and a glove, holds a bow. The right arm has forearm and hand extended forward. The legs are protected by greaves. In addition to the statues, 16 nuraghe models have been identified. In the current state of studies on the Nuragic civilisation, it is believed that the necropolis of Mont'e Prama may have been the funerary space reserved for a dominant family group in the Nuragic society of the First Iron Age (9th century BC). The statuary complex is currently on display in part at the "Giovanni Marongiu" Civic Museum in Cabras and in part at the National Archaeological Museum in Cagliari. The archaeological site is currently not open to visitors, and planning is under way to turn it into a museum to allow for visits, as well as the resumption of excavation activities.
Cabras
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          • SP 7 Loc. Mont'e Prama 09072 Cabras

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