Archaeologists on the island of Sardinia have discovered a mysterious archaeological landmark on the slopes of the "Carrarchos-Iddia" hill, which is believed to be one of the island's famous "Giants' Cemetery" sites.
The ancient mausoleum, called the "Tomb of the Giants," is located at an altitude of 740 meters above sea level, amidst dense Mediterranean forests, and the archaeological site has maintained its good condition despite the passage of thousandsof years since its construction.
But archaeologists were not the first to enter this site, as the mausoleum had been looted by grave robbers several times in ancient times. Nevertheless, the discovery retains significant scientific value, being one of the oldest known examples of this type of funerary structure.
The mausoleum was built from blocks made of trachyte stone, and the burial chamber is still preserved inside, along with a semi-circular space in front of the entrance believed to have been used for ancestor rites of honor.
However, what most intrigued researchers was the division of the shrine's interior space into two levels, starting directly from the entrance area. A similar design had never been found before in the remains of this type of structure, prompting specialists to study its functional and symbolic significance.
The discovery site is also of particular importance, as the Cararso-Idiya area is known among archaeologists as a rich archaeological complex containing numerous ancient monuments. Previous excavations have revealed two other tombs, a ritual well, the remains of a settlement, and a large burial area.
The site also includes a dolmen (a massive stone structure) that has been proven to be much older than the new Bronze Age discovery.
The "Giants' Tombs" structures appeared in Sardinia around 1800 BC and are a later development of the earlier dolmens. While scholars still disagree about the purpose of some of the ancient dolmens, the "Giants' Tombs" have been definitively identified as Bronze Age mass graves.
