Giants' grave of Coddu Vecchiu

The Giants' grave of Coddu Vecchiu is a Nuragic funerary monument located near Arzachena in northern Sardinia, Italy. Dating from the Bronze Age, it is one of the larger and most structurally complete Giants' graves on the island. The site is distinguished by its monumental central stele, which at roughly four meters high is considered the tallest of its kind found in Sardinia. Built from local granite, the monument provides crucial evidence for the evolution of prehistoric funerary architecture in the region, transitioning from an earlier gallery tomb into the characteristic Giants' grave form. It likely served as the communal cemetery for the nearby Nuragic settlement of La Prisgiona.

Construction at Coddu Vecchiu unfolded over multiple phases. The original structure was a gallery tomb, or allée couverte, built during the Early Bronze Age. Scholars associate this initial phase with the Bonnanaro culture, dating roughly between 2100 and 1800 BC, while some evidence suggests even earlier Chalcolithic Monte Claro period activity. During the early Middle Bronze Age, approximately 1800 to 1600 BC, Nuragic builders dramatically transformed the monument. They added the semicircular exedra and the massive central stele with its carved portal, converting the simple gallery into a Giants' grave. The site was excavated in 1966 by Editta Castaldi, who recovered artifacts confirming this chronological sequence. The upper portion of the central stele was once removed by a local farmer to be used as a plow, but it was soon recovered and restored to its original position.

The archaeological assemblage from Coddu Vecchiu consists primarily of ceramic artifacts associated with funerary offerings and ceremonial practices in the exedra. Most artifacts were discovered in the forecourt area, as the internal chamber had been disturbed by clandestine excavations over the centuries. The excavated material includes pans, bowls, and plates featuring comb decoration, as well as vases with bent necks, dating to the later phases of the Bronze Age and the Nuragic culture. Additionally, earlier vase fragments decorated in the typical style of the Bonnanaro culture were found, alongside some fragments potentially attributable to the Chalcolithic Monte Claro culture. No bone remains have been preserved, likely due to the acidity of the local granite soil.

The most notable feature of the site is its monumental central stele, which stands approximately 4.04 meters high with a base width of 1.90 meters. Unique among Giants' graves, the stele is composed of two superimposed elements: a lower rectangular panel and an upper lunette panel, both adorned with a flat relief frame. Near the base of the stele, a small molded doorway, measuring 0.67 meters high and 0.45 meters wide, provides a symbolic entrance to the tomb. The exedra, or stone forecourt, is another major feature, consisting of 11 granite orthostats arranged in a semicircle measuring about 12 meters across. The slabs decrease in height moving away from the central stele, creating a striking architectural facade.

The monument is oriented along an east-west axis, with the entrance facing east. The gallery grave extends behind the forecourt, measuring about 10 meters long and 3.5 to 4 meters wide. The internal funerary corridor is roughly 9 meters long and 1.05 to 1.10 meters wide, constructed with vertical granite slabs supporting lintel capstones for the roof. A small connecting corridor links the exedra to the older gallery. The exterior of the gallery is built from roughly squared medium-sized stones arranged in horizontal courses, suggesting the entire structure was once covered by a tumulus of earth and small stones. The paved floor, partially destroyed by unauthorized digging, follows the natural slope of the terrain. The site sits on a slope at the foot of a hilly area cultivated with vineyards, notably near the Capichera winery.

The Giants' grave of Coddu Vecchiu is located in the locality of Capichera, along provincial road SP 14, about 6 kilometers from the town of Arzachena. It is managed by Geseco Arzachena and requires an admission fee, which includes guided tours available upon reservation or request at the ticket office. From May to September, the site is open daily from 10:00 to 19:30, and from October to April, it opens Tuesday through Sunday from 10:00 to 16:00. The site features a bookshop, audio guides, and Wi-Fi, with facilitated physical accessibility for visitors with specific needs. Access is easiest by car via the SS 427 toward Luogosanto, with a short walk from the parking area. The nearby Nuraghe La Prisgiona is located roughly 700 meters away, allowing visitors to easily combine the two monuments into a single itinerary.