Excluding the debated human traces dating back to the Middle Palaeolithic Period (from 150,000 to 120,000 B.C.) discovered in the stretch of coast between the Grotta del Bue Marino and Cala Luna (Caves of Ziu Santoru and Cala Ilune), the oldest culture documented in the territory is that of San Michele of Ozieri (Late Neolithic 3200-2850 B.C.).

The monumental evidence consists of sporadic discoveries of surface fragments of pottery and objects in chipped and smooth stone, 3 menhir, but above all of the 54 domus de janas, the small man-made caves, mostly isolated and generally consisting of a single cell, dug into the rock and used to bury the dead (fig. 1).

Fig. 1 - Domus de janas of Pirischè-Dorgali (from http://www.sardegnadigitallibrary.it/mmt/1024/103097.jpg).

Still within the Pre-Nuraghic sphere (2850-2700 B.C.), of the 14 megalithic single chamber (dolmen) tombs surveyed, the allée couverte of Motorra (fig. 2), first brought to light the pottery typical of the Ozieri Culture.

Fig. 2 - Dolmen of Motorra-Dorgali (from http://www.sardegnadigitallibrary.it/mmt/1024/103121.jpg).

Twenty anthropomorphic male representations, depicting a dance scene related to solar cults and discovered in the Grotta del Bue Marino, can be dated to the beginning of the Copper Age (Filigosa-Abealzu Culture, 2700 to 2400 B.C.)   (figs. 3,4,5).

Fig. 3 - The caves of Bue Marino-Dorgali (from http://www.sardegnadigitallibrary.it/mmt/480/29648.jpg).

Figs. 4, 5 - Anthropomorphic petroglyphs from the Grotta del Bue Marino-Dorgali (from http://www.museoarcheologicodorgali.it/wp/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/Petroglifi-2.jpg).

An oval hut base which may be placed within the Eneolithic facies of the Monte Claro Culture (2400-2100 B.C.) was found in Punta Marras (fig. 6). The high reliefs of Sa Icu (fig. 7) also refer to the same cultural timeframe; these consist of 57 geometric figures carved on outcropping basalt blocks, reproducing the layout of known nearby sacred monuments.

Fig. 6 - The hut of Marras-Dorgali (from MANUNZA 1995, fig. 114, p. 82).

Fig. 7 - High reliefs of Marras-Dorgali (from MANUNZA 1995, fig. 104, p. 77).

The final phase of the Copper Age, which appears in Sardinia during the Bell Beaker culture (2100-1800 B.C.) and was widespread throughout Europe and the Mediterranean basin, is attested by the Motorra dolmen, where a fragmentary brassard5 was found. Moreover, a fragment of decorated bowl was unearthed in one of the domus de janas of Lottonido.