For over three thousand years, it has dominated the valleys of Marmilla, coloring the top of a hill with yellow arenaria stone at the borders between Oristanese and southern Sardinia.
Its walls have witnessed the succession of Nuragic, Punic, Roman, and early medieval peoples, making it one of the few Sardinian sites from the Bronze Age that has ‘lived’ continuously for more than fifteen centuries. The nuragheSantu MialiIt is located in the territory of Pompu, a small agricultural center in the high Marmilla at the foot of Mount Arci, and has been the subject of numerous excavation campaigns over the years, which have shed light on its extraordinary longevity. The building falls into the category of nuragic fortresses with a complex structure, consisting of a central tower and a quadrilobate bastion with an internal courtyard. Its construction dates back to between the 14th and 12th centuries BC. The building material is sandstone, which gives theSantu Mialiits characteristic yellow color.
Around the nuraghe, you will notice the traces of about ten circular huts belonging to the village, and two additional structures of identical shape but considerable size, located on the north and east sides of the nuraghe. All the buildings are surrounded by a defensive wall. In the southern section of the wall, the construction technique using isodomic work stands out, with perfectly squared blocks and, in some places, the use of L-shaped corner stones.
The courtyard, in the subsequent centuries, became a sacred area: this is evidenced by the numerous and surprising findings that occurred during the excavations. In particular, the lamps feature symbols related to various cults and religions: perhaps Ceres, goddess of the harvest, was celebrated. But some also bear the cross with the P, related to Christianity, and the symbol of theMenorah, which instead refers to Jewish rituals.Santu Mialiwould therefore represent an important example of contamination and religious tolerance. Traces dating back to the early medieval period have also been found in the huts surrounding the nuraghe, while nearby there is a tomb carved into the limestone rock, known asthe lake of honey, remains of necropolises and settlements, all dating back to the Roman era.
(from Sardegna Turismo)
The photos of the nuraghe Santu Miali are by: Andrea Mura-Nuragando Sardegna, Bibi Pinna and Alessandra Cossu, Pino Fiore.
