View source for Giants' grave

{{Short description|Sardinian megalithic gallery grave by the Nuragic civilization}}
{{other uses|Giant's Grave (disambiguation)}}
[[File:Foto aerea della tomba Tomba dei Giganti "Sa Domu 'e S'Orku2 in territorio di Siddi. La tomba risale al periodo nuragico.jpg|right|thumb|340px|Aerial view of the Giant's grave of Sa Domu 'e S'Orcu in [[Siddi, Sardinia|Siddi]].]]
'''Giants' grave''' ({{langx|it|tomba dei giganti}}; {{langx|sc|tumba de zigantes}} or {{lang|sc|gigantis}}) is the name given by [[Sardinians|local people]] and [[archaeologist]]s to a type of [[Sardinia]]n [[megalithic]] [[gallery grave]] built during the [[Bronze Age]] by the [[Nuragic civilization]]. They were collective tombs and can be found throughout [[Sardinia]], with 800 being discovered there.<ref name=Atzeni.I>[https://www.academia.edu/2572124/ASPETTI_E_PROBLEMATICHE_DEL_RITUALE_FUNERARIO_DI_ETA_NURAGICA  Aspetti e problematiche del rituale funarario di età nuragica]</ref>

A stone [[cairn]] lies over the burial chambers, with some examples having a cup-shaped entrance similar to the [[court cairn]] tombs of [[Ireland]].

==Types==
[[File:Giants' grave Coddu Vecchiu (Sardegna).jpg|right|500px|thumb|Coddu Vecchju - [[Arzachena]]]]

There are two general types of giants' tomb. In the so-called "slab type", uncut slabs are buried on end in the ground, and are arranged side-by-side. There is usually a central [[stele]], which is the largest slab (up to 4&nbsp;m in height) and has a doorway cut through it.

In the more primitive slab-type giants tombs, the central slab is unmodified aside from the entrance that is cut through it at the base, or else there is a crude dolmen-like arrangement of 3 uncut rocks to form the entrance (Osono, Sortali, Lolghi, Pescaredda). In more advanced slab-type giants tombs, the central slab is modified so as to be rounded on top, and has a simple design carved into the front surface (Dorgali, Goronna, Santu Bainzu, Coddu Vecchju).

[[File:Nuraghe Palmavera (Alghero) 40.jpg|thumb|Graphic reconstruction]]
The [[sepulchre]]s have a characteristic rectangular plan with an [[apse]]. The burial chamber is usually 5 to 15 metres long and 1 to 2 metres high. The structures were originally covered by a mound resembling the shape of an overturned ship. Near the entrance an [[obelisk]] (''betile'' in [[Sardinian language|Sardinian]]) is usually found, which symbolizes the gods or ancestors who watched over the dead.

The so-called "block type" tombs are made of rectangular-cut blocks (Bidistili, Madau II, Seleni II, Iloi, Mura Cuata).

There are also structures similar to the block-type giants tombs on the island of [[Malta]], in the [[United Kingdom]]<ref>[http://www.mysteriousbritain.co.uk/scotland/arran/ancient-sites/giants-graves.html Giant's Graves]</ref> and in [[Menorca]] ([[naveta]]).<ref>Giovanni Lilliu, La civiltà nuragica, Sassari 1982 p.54</ref>
[[File:Sardegna mappa tombe dei giganti.svg|thumb|Geographical distribution of the Giant tombs in Sardinia]]

==List of major tombs==
*''[[Giants' grave of Su Mont'e s'Abe|Su Mont'e s'Abe]]'', near [[Olbia]]
*''[[Giants' grave of Sa Dom'è s'Orcu (Quartucciu)|Sa Dom'è s'Orcu]]'', near [[Quartucciu]]
*Two 18th-century BC tombs near [[Lanusei]]
*''Aiodda'', near [[Nurallao]]
*''[[Giants' grave of Coddu Vecchiu|Coddu Vecchiu]]'' and ''[[Giants' grave of Li Lolghi|Li Lolghi]]'', [[Arzachena]]
*''[[Giants' grave of Sa Dom'è s'Orcu (Siddi)|Sa Dom'è s'Orcu]]'', [[Siddi, Sardinia|Siddi]]
*Imbertighe, [[Borore]]
*Madau, [[Fonni]]
*Muraguada, [[Bauladu]]
*Osono, near [[Triei]]
*Tomb of San Cosimo, near [[Gonnosfanadiga]]
*''[[Giants' grave of S'Ena'e Thomes|S'Ena'e Thomes]]'', [[Dorgali]]
*Bainzu, [[Borore]]
*''Sa Farch'e S'Artare'', [[Seneghe]]

==See also==
*[[Nuraghe]]
*[[Naveta]]

==Image gallery==
<gallery>
File:La_protome_taurina.jpg|Giant's grave of S'Arena, [[Urzulei]]
File:Calangianus_-_Tomba_dei_giganti_di_Pascaredda_(41).JPG|Giant's grave of Pascaredda, [[Calangianus]]
File:Tomba_dei_Giganti_Is_Concias.jpg|[[Giants' grave of Sa Dom'è s'Orcu (Quartucciu)|Giant's grave of Is Concias]], [[Quartucciu]]
File:Li Lolghi 11.JPG|Giant's grave of Li Lolghi, Arzachena
File:Madau.JPG|Giant's grave of Madau, [[Fonni]]
File:Tomba dei Giganti Barrancu Mannu.jpg|Giant's grave of Barrancu Mannu, [[Santadi]]
File:Complesso nuragico.JPG|Giant's grave of Lu Brandali, [[Santa Teresa Gallura]]
File:Tomba dei Giganti Iloi 02 B.jpg|Iloi
File:Tomba dei Giganti Iloi 02 - Camera.jpg|Iloi 2
File:Tomba giganti San Cosimo.jpg|Giant's grave of San Cosimo, [[Gonnosfanadiga]]
</gallery>

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Giants graves}}
*[http://www.archeologiasarda.com/tombe_dei_giganti.asp Giants' Tomb in Sardinian archaeology] {{in lang|it}}

[[Category:Buildings and structures in Sardinia]]
[[Category:Archaeology of Sardinia]]
[[Category:Archaeology of death]]
[[Category:Burials in Sardinia]]
[[Category:Burial monuments and structures]]
[[Category:Megalithic monuments in Italy]]
[[Category:Prehistoric sites in Italy]]
[[Category:Tourist attractions in Sardinia]]
[[Category:Archaeological sites in Sardinia]]