Hypogeum of Sant'Iroxi

The Hypogeum of Sant'Iroxi (also known as the Tomb of the warriors) is an archaeological site located near the town of Decimoputzu in the province of South Sardinia.

Hypogeum of Sant'Iroxi
Ipogeo di Sant'Iroxi (Italian)
Sant'Iroxi
Hypogeum of Sant'Iroxi is located in Italy
Hypogeum of Sant'Iroxi
Shown within Italy
Alternative nameTomb of the warriors
LocationDecimoputzu, Sardinia, Italy
RegionSardinia
Coordinates39°20′10″N 8°55′13″E / 39.33611°N 8.92028°E / 39.33611; 8.92028
TypeNecropolis
History
Founded4th millennium BC
CulturesPre-Nuragic Sardinia
Site notes
ManagementSuperintendence for the Archaeological Heritage in the Provinces of Cagliari and Oristano (Soprintendenza per i Beni Archeologici per le province di Cagliari e Oristano)
Public accessNo

Datation edit

The site (a domus de janas), discovered in 1987, dates back to 3000 BC in the late Neolithic Age,[1] and was used for about 1,500 years by the nearby village to which it belonged, from the Ozieri culture period until that of Bonnannaro.[1]

Grave goods edit

 
Swords from Sant'Iroxi

It owes its name (Tomb of the warriors) to the large number of skeletons (more than 200), deposited in 13 chronological strata, and for the rich military kit, dated to c. 1650-1600 BC, which includes swords and daggers of arsenical copper (19 in all). The swords and triangular blades range in length from 27 up to 66 cm and show some similarities to the swords of the El Argar culture (southeastern Spain).[2] The kit is kept at the National Archaeological Museum of Cagliari.

Notes edit

  1. ^ a b Ugas 1990, p. 11.
  2. ^ "Le spade del bronzo antico e medio della Sardegna e del sud-est spagnolo: analogie, differenze e possibile derivazione dai pugnali campaniforme. 2012". academia.edu (in Italian).

Bibliography edit

  • Ugas, Giovanni (1990). La tomba dei guerrieri di Decimoputzu (in Italian). Cagliari: Edizioni della Torre. ISBN 6600001364.