The First Human Presences
The First Human Presences
Since the 19th century, several scholars have dedicated themselves to the plateau and its monuments. The Piedmontese general Alberto Ferrero, count of Marmora, draws up the first map of the plateau. Canon Giovanni Spano, on the other hand, gives news of fortuitous discoveries. In the article and paper by Antonio Taramelli and Filippo Nissardi are illustrated almost 150 nuraghi. During the 900’s the territory is affected by various excavations and news of monuments, especially from Lilliu. the information about the plateau and its ridge given by the archaeological census of the municipal territory of Gesturi have comparisons and similarities with the areas of the Giara belonging to the other municipalities. In the last two years, Vanzetti and Schirru have analysed, using GIS instruments, the relationship between nuraghi and territory.
The Giara has been inhabited by man since the Neolithic Age: this is demonstrated by the traces of the stone workshops (of obsidian and flint) and the Domus de Janas. These burials are found exclusively in the ridge, dug just below the lava flow (Scala Pizosa, Tuili; Sa Ucca ‘e su paui, Cadoni and Monti Crucuris, Gesturi) or made in isolated formations on the mid-coast (Sa Domu ‘e s’Orcu, Setzu). Two others are present in the locality of Is Spillucheddas, on the southwestern slopes of Monte Santu Antine di Genoni, considered a split of the same jar, separated by ancient fractures. On the plateau some dolmens and menhirs have been recorded.
Life continues in the subsequent Copper Age, when the territory was densely populated. The interesting burial of Mind’e Gureu with an entombment accompanied by a set of Abealzu culture dates back to this time. During the Monte Claro Culture there is a greater population of the territory with about twenty settlements, including that of Nerbonis.
