Giant's tombs are typical burial chambers from the Nuragic Age; the name stems from their huge dimensions, due to their use as common graves.
These buildings are characterised by an irregular apsidal ground plan; by the entrance they present a vertical slab decorated by a sort of circular frame: around this central slab there are smaller stones that form the so-called “exedra", the area where the cult took place.
The tombs located in the south of Sardinia were built according to the “cyclopean technique", the same used by the Nuraghi builders.
All of them are located in astronomically significant positions: in connection either with certain stars or with the movements of the moon.
The worshipped gods are represented by conic stones, the so-called “bètyli", which were believed to keep the bad influences away.
The tomb of S'Ena e Thomes is one of the best preserved in Sardinia and certainly one of the most ancient (1800-1600 b. C.). It has a ‘dolmenic' structure with a wide exedra and an oval 3,5m high slab that closes the burial chamber. It still maintains the original covering (large slabs laid on the walls).
The ground plan resembles a bovine head, whose horns are represented by a semi-circular enclosure with a diameter of 11m that can be found on both sides of the entrance.
The monument is located in an excellent position on the Rio Isalle valley.
Visit time: 50-60 mins.
Getting there:
Take the 131 until the 123,700th Km; turn towards Nuoro-Siniscola, go past the junction for Nuoro and take the road to Dorgali. After 4,1km you will find the archaeological site on the left.
