The Nuragic Civilization

Book excerpt: A revelatory guide to one of the oldest and most mysterious civilizations of the Mediterranean With no written record of their own, the Nuragic civilization has long remained shrouded in mystery to contemporary scholars. The ancient Mediterranean civilization is thought to have occupied what is present-day Sardinia from the Bronze Age to 238 BCE, and it takes its name from the Sardinian word for the monument considered most representative of the culture: the "nuraghe". A nuraghe is a towering fortress constructed of large stone slabs stacked on top of one another, rough-hewn or cut with varying degrees of regularity, each containing one or more chambers. Over 7,000 nuraghi dot the island, along with other structures such as "sacred springs" and "giants' tombs." This book guides readers on a tour back in time through several European cities, exploring archaeological sites and uncovering the secrets of this enigmatic society with stunning photography accompanied by historical research.