The monumental remains of the Nuraghic Age in the area of Sardara are particularly numerous and important; there are, in fact, several complex nuraghi, such as those of Arrigau, Axurridu, Barumeli, Jana, Perra and Ortu Comidu, each flanked by the relevant village.

Archaeological research carried out at the quatrefoil Nuraghe of Ortu Comidu (fig. 1), located a few kilometres from Sardara, have revealed the use of the monument over a long period of time ranging from the Nuraghic to the Roman Age.

Fig. 1 - Survey of the nuraghe Ortu Comidu after the excavation by A. TARAMELLI (from USAI 2003 a, p. 42).

The Sa Costa site, now partially occupied by the building that houses the Civic Archaeological Museum of Sardara, has also shown several Nuraghic structures and, in particular, a tomb excavated in 1912 by Antonio Taramelli, whose funerary objects included two small bronze statues of an archer with a hemispherical helmet and an armoured apron covering a short tunic (fig. 2).

Fig. 2 - The two small bronze archer statues found on the site of Sa Costa (photo R.A.S.).

The well-temple of S. Anastasia (fig. 3), one of the most important of Nuraghic Sardinia, consists of blocks of basalt and limestone and includes an atrium with seats, a 12 step staircase covered with degrading lintels and a "Tholos"-roofed circular room (fig. 4).

The water, coming from a vein spring, flowed from an opening located at the base of the well chamber, after passing through a 5-6 m long tunnel. The temple, dated to the late Bronze Age period (XII-XIII century B.C.), is located in a civil and religious settlement where there is also a second sacred well, an isodomic structure and an enclosure with the remains of several huts.

One of these, hut 5, (dated between the late eleventh and the beginning of the tenth century B.C.), has been described as a "meeting room", as inside it there is a countertop-seat with a central lytic column, next to which lay a basin and a sandstone altar shaped as a Nuraghic tower. In a pit-storage room near the entrance, a jar filled with metal objects and three basins of bronze were found, dating from the late eighth and early seventh century B.C.

The sacredness of the area continued throughout the ages, as is documented by the remains of the religious building from the Byzantine period dedicated to St. Anastasia, above which stands the structure of today’s church, dating from the fifteenth century (figs. 5-6).

Inside the church there is a Nuraghic well, originally relating to one of the village huts, which has shown materials dating back to between the Late Bronze Age and the seventh century B.C.

Fig. 3 - The sacred well of Saint Anastasia (from http://www.sardegnadigitallibrary.it/index.php?xsl=615&s=17&v=9&c=4461&id=56472).

Fig. 4 - The interior of the sacred well of Saint Anastasia (from http://www.sardegnacultura.it/j/v/277?s=7&v=9&c=2488¬izia=20757&pic=4&ng=1).

Fig. 5 - The church of Sant’ Anastasia near the Nuraghic sacred well (from http://www.sardegnacultura.it/j/v/277?s=7&v=9&c=2488¬izia=20757&pic=6&ng=1).

Fig. 6 - The Church and the sacred well of St. Anastasia (from http://www.sardegnadigitallibrary.it/index.php?xsl=615&s=17&v=9&c=4461&id=56478).