nuraghe La Prisgiona

Nuraghe La Prisgiona is a Nuragic archaeological site located in the Capichera valley within the municipality of Arzachena, Costa Smeralda, in northern Sardinia, Italy. Occupied from the 14th until the 9th century BC, the site consists of a complex nuraghe and an extensive village of around 90 to 100 buildings spread across five hectares. Due to its large extent and the number of its buildings, the site is considered unique in the context of northeastern Sardinia, or Gallura. Findings from the settlement are frequently unique on the island, particularly regarding their decoration and use. The site also preserves evidence of later occupation during the Roman imperial and medieval periods. The Giants' grave of Coddu Vecchiu is located nearby.

The site was brought to general attention in the early 1900s by local school master Michele Ruzzittu, who observed a large stone heap area suggesting ancient dwellings. The first scientific investigation occurred in 1959 under veteran archaeologist Ercole Contu, who identified the central keep, a triangular bastion with two towers and a counterfort, an inner court, boundary walls, a small tower, and at least ten surrounding huts. Excavation at that time was limited to one hut and small portions of the court, where a functioning well was found, yielding ceramics from the Middle Bronze Age to the Iron Age. With regional funding, the internal court and main facade were excavated between 1999 and 2000. From 2003 to 2008, exploration continued under archaeologist Angela Antona, who established a restoration laboratory on site. During this phase, evidence of Roman imperial activity and medieval reuse was discovered. Excavations resumed in 2013 under Antona, focusing on the village huts and the architectural, political, social, and economic evolution of the site. Restoration work was also undertaken in 2008 following the collapse of various structures.

The archaeological assemblage at La Prisgiona provides significant insight into Bronze Age production, ritual, and Mediterranean trade. Ceramics form a major part of the finds, ranging from comb-decorated Middle Bronze Age shards to Iron Age ceramics with impressed circles. The excavation of the village huts revealed specific craft activities, including pottery production in a hut equipped with a large oven, and ceramic repair in an adjacent hut. The scale of production indicates the community manufactured goods for a larger market beyond local needs. Additionally, the discovery of fish bones, bracelets, and uniquely decorated vessels points to ritual practices and wider Mediterranean connections.

Among the most significant finds are finely decorated askoid pitchers recovered from the bottom of the courtyard well. These vessels bear traces of ancient repairs, indicating their high value, and were likely used for ritual purposes rather than simple liquid storage. Another exceptional artifact is a roughly potted vase discovered in the meeting hut. Measuring 45 cm high with a maximum diameter of 40 cm, it features a funnel lip with four equidistant holes and complex symbolic decoration, including horn-like elements in a circle, vertical rib bundles forming a chevron, and a small snake near a stemmed chalice. Archaeologist Angela Antona has interpreted this vessel as a rhyton used for consuming a fermented beverage, such as wine or beer, during collective ceremonies, a theory supported by the concurrent discovery of a ladle, numerous cups, and bowls.

The nuraghe presides over several square kilometers and is a complex tholos type, a typology considered rather unusual in Gallura. According to scholar Giovanni Lilliu, the builders likely came from the Logudoro region. The monument features a central keep and two side towers forming a bastion, protected by a curtain wall enclosing a large courtyard. The keep entrance is defined by a massive 3.20 m lintel. Inside, the central chamber contains three niches and a false dome over six meters high. Within the courtyard lies a still functioning well over seven meters deep. A double fortification wall encloses a further courtyard, accessible via the meeting hut, which is the only building with such access. This circular hut contains a ring shaped bench and a central circular structure with corbelled courses. The surrounding village consists of circular huts organized in blocks of five, intersected by paved lanes. Hut 3 contained a semi circular oven likely used for baking flatbread, evidenced by heat compacted granite slabs.

Nuraghe La Prisgiona is located in the municipality of Arzachena in the province of North-East Sardinia. The site remains only partially excavated, with ongoing multi-disciplinary work focusing on the village. It is situated near several other prehistoric monuments, including the Giants' grave of Coddu Vecchiu, the Li Muri and Li Lolghi tombs, the Malchittu temple, and the Protonuraghe Albucciu near Arzachena. Information about the site is maintained by the Sardinia regional cultural administration.