Giants' grave of Coddu Vecchiu

Coddu Vecchiu

Giants' grave Coddu Vecchiu (Sardegna)
Shown within Sardinia
Coordinates	41°03′01″N 9°21′21″E / 41.05025°N 9.3558°E / 41.05025; 9.3558Coordinates: 41°03′01″N 9°21′21″E / 41.05025°N 9.3558°E / 41.05025; 9.3558
Type	Monument
History
Cultures	Nuragic civilization
Site notes
Excavation dates	1966
Archaeologists	Editta Castaldi
Condition	ruined
Management	I Beni Culturali della Sardegna
Public access	yes
Website	Arzachena, tomba di giganti di Coddu Vecchiu (Italian)

Coddu Vecchiu is a Giants' grave located near the Nuraghe La Prisgiona. The site was excavated in 1966 by Editta Castaldi.^[1] While the name ‘Tomb of Giants’ (or Giants’ Grave) invokes images of the burial of giant human beings, the tombs actually have nothing to do with the burial of anyone other than regular sized people from the Nuragic civilization. According to some legends, giants were buried in these tombs, in large part due to the massive size of some of the stones used, some reaching as high as 30 meters tall.

The Giants’ Graves at Coddu Vecchiu remains mysterious because little is known about the ceremonies or rituals that occurred there, or the symbolism that was being invoked. It is believed that the doors in the tombs were used to facilitate passage into the afterlife. These doorways served as the barrier between the physical world and the afterlife. Mourners and others would leave offerings at the entrance to the tombs.

Notes

• The monument is visible on Google map satellite view and on street view.

References

External links

• Arzachena, tomba di giganti di Coddu Vecchiu

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Coddu Vecchiu.