Travel guide

The prehistoric age
from 100,000 years ago to 1800 B.C.E.
The presence of human beings in Sardinia is documented starting from the
Lower Palaeolithic. The first remains are attributable to stone artefacts
dated between 450,000 to 100,000 years ago. In the Ancient Neolithic
(6000–4000 B.C.E.), the lithic industry is well represented by the obsidian
of Monte Arci, a material that also made for export goods. Of the Middle
Neolithic (4000–3400 B.C.E.) is the culture of Bonuighinu, to which some
ceramics with elegantly carved decorations are attributable. Around 3200
B.C.E. the culture of Ozieri takes over (dating to the Higher Neolithic and
the Lower Eneolithic), during which closer cultural relationships with the
eastern Mediterranean regions become evident, especially in the significant
temple-altar of Monte d’Accoddi near Sassari. Starting from the Recent
Neolithic (3400–3200 B.C.E.), funeral rituals become increasingly
widespread. These are documented, in particular, by the artificial grottos
known as Domus de Janas, sometimes decorated with elementary symbols
or even painted. Starting from 3000 B.C.E., stone figurines attributable to
the Mother Goddess, whose worship was widespread across the whole
The nuraghe Ruiu,
Macomer
Mediterranean Basin and in the Middle East, appear. These are followed by
the menhir-statues bearing male features, amongst which are remarkable
those of Pranu Mutteddu near Goni. The latter represent a period of
transition, in which the spread of the steel industry is an indication to the
practice of war, until then seemingly unknown in Sardinia. The reference
framework is the culture of the bell-shaped Vase (2100–1800 B.C.E.),
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