Tomba di Giganti Coddu Vecchiu
Coddu Vecchiu Giant's Tomb · Capichera Giant's Grave
Early to Middle Bronze Age·Nuragic (Bonnannaro precursor to Nuragic)·🇮🇹 Sardinia, Gallura, Arzachena, Italy
About
About Tomba di Giganti Coddu Vecchiu
Iconic Nuragic Giants' Tomb near Arzachena, type-site for monument: megalithic gallery grave 10 m long x 0.9 m wide x 1.8 m high of orthostats with capstones within elongated mound, fronted by semi-circular exedra of upright stones 12 m wide with central 4.04 m high granite portal stele weighing 6 tonnes — tallest stele in Gallura with rectangular doorway — flanked by curving wings of lower orthostats. Built c.1800–1600 BCE, contained Nuragic burials. Myth links to giant founders.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Why portal stele doorway so small (0.6x0.6 m) — soul hole?
Theories
- 01Exedra as ritual stage for offering and ancestor libations
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- c. 1800–1600 BCE
- Period
- Early to Middle Bronze Age
- Culture
- Nuragic (Bonnannaro precursor to Nuragic)
- Purpose
- Collective gallery grave with ceremonial forecourt (exedra) for rites
- Abandoned
- c.1200 BCE
- Rediscovered
- Known antiquarian; excavated 1960s Contu
- Excavation
- Excavated
c. 1800–1600 BCE
Initial construction
c. 1263 CE
Major expansion
On the ground
Structures & features
41.0503° N · 9.3556° E · 180 m · 3 mapped features
Portal Stele
stele4.04 m pierced granite stele with door hole
41.0503° N · 9.3556° EExedra
forecourtSemicircular forecourt 12 m wide with wing orthostats
41.0504° N · 9.3557° EGallery Chamber
gallery10 m orthostat gallery under mound
41.0502° N · 9.3555° E
Gallery