16 – The necropolis of Monte ‘e Prama, in Cabras, is one of the 31 sites proposed to Unesco as flag bearers of the grandiose nuragic civilization, its history, and its vast material testimonies.
“The statues of Mont’e Prama are the only examples of stone statuary from the nuragic period (900-700 BC) found so far in Sardinia, and one of the oldest examples of statuary in the Mediterranean.
The anthropomorphic statues are all male and mostly depict singular ‘boxers’ with an armored glove and a protective shield held above their heads, with fewer classic archers with a bow on their shoulder and warriors with a round shield. Other sculptures represent nuraghi, which at that time were already old and perhaps in ruins but still alive as emblems and symbols of cultural identity. Many sculptures are even two meters tall, which is why they are improperly referred to as ‘Giants.’
The statues come from the archaeological area of Mont’e Prama located in the municipality of Cabras, in the central part of the Sinis peninsula to the west of the Cabras pond, which was discovered for the first time in 1974 when the first fragments of sculptures emerged from the plowing of a field. Some fragments of the statues were displayed in the halls of the National Archaeological Museum of Cagliari.
During the excavations conducted in the Seventies, in addition to the identification of about ten burials, over 5000 fragments were found, which, after a long and meticulous work of”restorationAt the Li Punti restoration center, 38 statues have been reassembled.
Since March 22, 2014, the statues have been displayed on the ground floor and the third floor of the Museum, as part of the exhibition “Mont’e Prama 1974-2014,” which takes place alongside the Museo Civico.G. Marongiuof Cabras. (National Archaeological Museum of Cagliari).
The photos of the statues are by Bruno Sini, Nicola Castangia, Bibi Pinna and taken from the websites of the archaeological museums of Cabras and Cagliari. The image taken during the discovery of a “giant” comes from the Mont’e Prama site. That of other findings is from the portal of the Municipality of Cabras.
