Domus de Janas of Anghelu Ruju
Necropolis of Anghelu Ruju · Alghero Domus de Janas
Late Neolithic to Early Bronze Age·Ozieri (San Michele) → Beaker → Bonnannaro → Nuragic·🇮🇹 Sardinia, Sassari, Alghero, Italy
About
About Domus de Janas of Anghelu Ruju
Largest rock-cut necropolis in Sardinia at Anghelu Ruju plain 9 km north of Alghero — 38 hypogea (domus de janas, houses of fairies) carved into Cretaceous limestone by Ozieri culture c.4200–2600 BCE, with 400 m² of chambers, false doors, bull-horn pilasters, spiral carvings and red ochre paint mimicking above-ground houses. Neolithic to Nuragic reuse for 3000 years. Tomb XXVIII with two pillars and bull symbols is finest. Discovered 1903 by farmers, excavated by Taramelli 1903-36.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Bull-horn symbolism meaning — moon or bull cult?
Theories
- 01Houses of the dead imitating houses of the living for afterlife
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- c. 4200–2600 BCE
- Period
- Late Neolithic to Early Bronze Age
- Culture
- Ozieri (San Michele) → Beaker → Bonnannaro → Nuragic
- Purpose
- Rock-cut collective tombs (domus de janas) for successive cultures
- Abandoned
- c.700 BCE (nuragic reuse)
- Rediscovered
- Found 1903 vine planting; excavated 1903-1936 Taramelli, Contu
- Excavation
- Excavated
c. 4200–2600 BCE
Initial construction
c. 1040 CE
Rediscovery
On the ground
Structures & features
40.6321° N · 8.3275° E · 65 m · 2 mapped features
Tomb XXVIII (Fine Tomb)
hypogeumHypogeum with two pillars, bull-horn reliefs and red ochre
40.6321° N · 8.3275° ENecropolis Field
necropolis38 tombs cut into 100 m limestone plateau
40.6318° N · 8.3278° E