Excavated into the pink trachyte ridge overlooking the Rio Mannu valley, the Santu Pedru necropolis in Alghero brings together ten domus de janas of extraordinary architectural complexity.
Used continuously from the Recent Neolithic up to the Bronze Age, these subterranean tombs strike visitors with the monumental scale of their chambers, some of which are preceded by large open-air atriums simulating the courtyards of dwellings for the living.
The internal layout reproduces the domestic architecture of the era with impressive realism. The walls feature false doors, relief-carved lintels, baseboards, and large hearths embedded directly into the living stone. A feature of absolute significance is the famous Tomb of the Bisant Vases, named after the unique artifacts discovered here, which are embellished with geometric patterns painted in red ochre-based pigments.
The underground deposits have yielded an exceptional quantity of artifacts, including ceramics attributed to the Ozieri, Abealzu, Filigosa, and Monte Claro cultures, alongside personal ornaments in bone and flint. Santu Pedru confirms its status as a primary site for deciphering the evolution of funerary rites and the technical skills of ancient Sardinian peoples.
