Nuragus facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Nuragus
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| Comune di Nuragus | |
Panorama of Nuragus
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| Country | Italy |
| Region | Sardinia |
| Province | South Sardinia |
| Frazioni | Lixius |
| Area | |
| • Total | 19.9 km2 (7.7 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 359 m (1,178 ft) |
| Population
(31 December 2010)
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| • Total | 968 |
| • Density | 48.64/km2 (126.0/sq mi) |
| Demonym(s) | Nuraghesi |
| Time zone | UTC+1 (CET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+2 (CEST) |
| Postal code |
08030
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| Dialing code | 0782 |
Nuragus (in Latin: Valentia) is a small, charming town in the beautiful Italian region of Sardinia. It's known as a comune, which is like a local government area or municipality in Italy. This ancient place is located about 60 kilometers (around 37 miles) north of Cagliari, the capital city of Sardinia. Nuragus is surrounded by other towns like Genoni, Gesturi, Isili, Laconi, and Nurallao.
Contents
About Nuragus: A Glimpse into History
Nuragus is a small town with a rich past, especially when it comes to ancient history. It's home to about 968 people and sits at an elevation of 359 meters (about 1,178 feet) above sea level. The town is part of the Province of South Sardinia.
Where is Nuragus?
Nuragus is located in the heart of Sardinia, an island known for its stunning landscapes and ancient ruins. It's positioned in a way that it shares borders with several other interesting municipalities. These include Genoni, Gesturi, Isili, Laconi, and Nurallao. This central location made it an important spot in ancient times.
Ancient Discoveries: Archaeology in Nuragus
The area around Nuragus is a treasure trove for archaeologists. It holds many clues about the people who lived here thousands of years ago. These discoveries help us understand how ancient civilizations traded and lived.
Bronze Age Copper Trade
Imagine a time long, long ago, during the Bronze Age. This was a period when people learned to make tools and weapons from bronze, a metal made by mixing copper and tin. In this era, trade routes stretched across vast distances. Copper, a very important metal, was traded from places like Alashiya (which was probably the island of Cyprus) in the eastern Mediterranean Sea.
Believe it or not, this copper reached all the way to Sardinia! In 1857, farmers plowing their fields near Nuragus made an amazing discovery. They found five special pieces of copper, shaped like ox hides (animal skins). These are called oxhide ingots. They were found at the base of an old, ruined structure called a nuraghe (pronounced noo-RAH-gay), which locals called Serra Ilixi.
The Serra Ilixi Ingots
The discovery of these oxhide ingots was very important. A famous archaeologist named Luigi Pigorini wrote about them in 1904, sharing the news with the world. These ingots are now on display at the National Archaeological Museum in Cagliari. They show us that Sardinia was connected to a huge trading network thousands of years ago.
Giants' Tombs: A Nuragic Mystery
Between Nuragus and the nearby town of Nurallao, you can find another fascinating ancient site: the Giants' tomb of Aiodda. This type of tomb is a large, ancient burial chamber built by the Nuragic civilization. The Nuragic people lived in Sardinia during the Bronze Age and Iron Age. They are famous for building unique stone towers called nuraghi, as well as these impressive tombs. These tombs are a reminder of the advanced skills and beliefs of the people who lived in Sardinia so long ago.
