A bronze earring, an ornament relating to the Early Medieval period, was found in a difficultly accessed well located inside the abyss of Ispinigoli (fig. 1), in the territory of Dorgali.

Fig. 1 - Abyss of Ispinigoli (from http://www.sardegnadigitallibrary.it/mmt/480/103007.jpg).

The earring (dimensions: diameter 1.5 cm; thickness 0.2 cm) consists of a roughly oval bronze wire, with open and thin ends, in which a blue round glass paste pearl with a “fiery eyes” white and blue decoration was inserted (figs. 2, 3). 

Fig. 2 - Earring decorated with "fiery eyes" from the abyss of Ispinigoli (from PULACCHINI 1998, fig. 27, p.30).

Fig. 3 - Graphic representation of the bronze earring from Ispinigoli (from MORAVETTI 1980, table XLIX.11).

The "fiery eyes" decoration was very common in Sardinia from the Prehistoric to the Early Middle Ages; it was frequent on objects made of bone, stone, ceramic, bronze, and was used for a long period of time, and in different cultural environments, ranging from the early second millennium B.C. to the sixth-seventh century A.D. The jewel was found along with another silver earring with a yellow glass paste bead (fig. 4).

Fig. 4 - Graphic representation of the bronze earring from Ispinigoli (from MORAVETTI 1980, table XLIX.10).

Numerous artefacts have been recovered from the cave over the past years, dated between the Nuraghic Age and the Early Middle Ages.

The artefact is on display in the Archaeological Museum of Dorgali.