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Punic Hypogeum Necropolis

The old hypogeum cemetery of 13 chamber tombs cut out of the rock (two make use of older domus de janas) is one of the necropolises found in Monte Sirai.

It stands north-west of the inhabited area of the Acropolis (figs. 1-3) close to a group of previous tombs.

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Figs. 1-2 - The area of the hypogeum necropolis (highlighted): photo Unicity S.p.A.; Map (BARTOLONI 2004)


They were built in the 5th century B.C. by North African families linked to the victory that Carthage had in Sardinia and in the site, and in use until the 3rd century B.C.

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Fig. 3 - Area of the hypogeum necropolis. Detail (photo G. Manca di Mores 2015)

Traces of red paint, now sacred, indicate the use and the symbol of the colour to decorate the walls. They are characterised by pillars, symbolic and figure decorations, sarcophagus dug into the rock, and several niches (figs. 4-5).

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Fig. 4 - Sarcophagus dug out from the rock in tomb ‘5’ (photo Unicity S.p.A.)
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Fig. 5 - Pillar with upside down sign of the goddess Tanit from tomb ‘5’ (photo Unicity S.p.A.)



Bibliografia

  • M. G. AMADASI - I. BRANCOLI, La necropoli, in MONTE SIRAI – II, Roma, pp. 95-121.
  • P. BARTOLONI, Monte Sirai, Sassari.
  • M. H. FANTAR, D. FANTAR, La nécropole, in MONTE SIRAI – IV, Roma 1967, pp. 63-81.
  • M. GUIRGUIS, Monte Sirai 1963-2013 mezzo secolo di indagini archeologiche, Sassari.

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