Irgoli, Sanctuary of Janna 'e Pruna

The archaeological area is located on Monte Senes, in a position of extensive domination over the valley of the Cedrino river, in the Baronie, a coastal region of eastern Sardinia.
The complex falls into the rather large and uneven category of nuragic sanctuaries dedicated to the cult of water.
It includes two sacred enclosures, a temple and other buildings connected to the activities of the sanctuary.
A large rectangular enclosure built with large granite boulders arranged in regular rows delimits the area intended for the celebration of rites and the deposition of offerings.
Inside the sacred space there is a second trapezoidal enclosure that encloses a building with unique characteristics: it is a real temple composed of a circular main body preceded by a vestibule.
The building is built with well-worked blocks arranged in regular rows.
The vestibule, rectangular in plan, preserves, at the base of the s side, part of a bank-seat functional to the deposition of offers.
The strong appearance of the side walls and the discovery, in large quantities, of flat slabs, lead to the hypothesis that the access compartment was covered by a double-sloping wooden roof covered with thin stone elements.
The circular structure behind it - interpreted for a long time as a nuraghe - encloses an environment, perhaps originally covered with an ogiva, which partly preserves a large stone bench leaning against the wall.
Some knife plates arranged in a perpendicular axis divide this support plane into different sectors.
A firebox is made on the floor, in the center of the compartment.
The materials recovered within the structure - ceramic fragments, and remains of bronze offerings - date back to a period of time between the recent Bronze Age and the early Iron Age (1200-800 BC).
Inside the trapezoidal enclosure, in front of the temple vestibule, there are two subcircular environments that can be attributed to subsequent phases.

History of excavations
The area was affected by two excavation campaigns (2001, 2003) conducted by Maria Ausilia Fadda.

Bibliography
M.A. Fadda, “Irgoli: the whole prehistory of Sardinia”, in Living Archaeology, XXI, n. 91, January-February 2002, pp. 56-61.
S. Massetti, “Sources and Structures of the Nuragic Age”, in Bulletin of Archaeology, 1997, nos. 43-45, pp. 192-195;
S. Massetti, A. Sanciu, “The archaeological area of Janna 'e Pruna and the Municipal Antiquarium of Irgoli”, Archaeological Sardinia, Guides and Itineraries n. 51, Carlo Delfino Editore, Sassari 2013.

How to get there
From the SS 131 dir at the height of Nuoro in the direction of Siniscola-Olbia, continue to the junction with the SP 25 that leads to Loculi and Irgoli. Leave the town of the latter town and take the road in the direction of Capo Comino, SS 129. Shortly after leaving the town, you cross the ring road, turn south and follow the signs for the archaeological area of Janna 'e Pruna. Continue on that road for about 11/12 km, going up the side of Monte Senes until you find the archaeological area located about ten meters above the road.