In San Salvatore, not far from the sea and beaches of Orrì, you have the archaeological area of S’ortali ’e su Monte. This is a real monumental complex formed by domus de janas, menhirs, one nuraghe and two tombs of giants, extending over about 8000 mq on a granite hill dominating the nearly coastal plain.

The presence of the domus de janas and menhirs proves that the area was already inhabited in really ancient times, from the Late Neolithic Period (3200-2800 B.C.). A first tomb, dug in the northern side of the hill, has a vestibule from which you go through a hatch into the cell itself (fig. 1-2).

Fig. 1 - Domus de janas in the archaeological area of S’Ortali ’e su Monte (photo by C. Nieddu).

Fig. 2 - Domus de janas in the archaeological area of S’Ortali ’e su Monte: detail of entrance to the inner chamber (photo by C. Nieddu).

Several menhirs also belong to the Neolithic age; others and a cup-shaped boulder are visible next to the country church of (fig. 3) and their presence could be connected to the tomb dug in a granite rock spur behind the church. This domus de janas has two cells preceded by a vestibule.

Fig. 3 - The country church of San Salvatore (photo by Unicity S.p.A.).

The Nuragic site of S’Ortali ‘e su Monte has one single-tower nuraghe, dated to the Middle Bronze Age, that is about 1500-1400 B.C., but used until the period between the late Bronze Age and the Early Iron Age, about 900 B.C. (fig. 4), surrounded by an outer wall, holding two towers, by a village with several huts (fig. 5) and two tombs of giants (fig. 6) holding the dead buried through internment.

Fig. 4 - The nuraghe of S’Ortali ’e su Monte (photo by Unicity S.p.A.).

Fig. 5 - Structures of the village surrounding the nuraghe of S’Ortali ’e su Monte (photo by C. Nieddu).

Fig. 6 - The exedra of the tomb of giants of S’Ortali ’e su Monte (photo Unicity S.p.A.).