Visit to the nuraghi of Barumini.

These are the buildings called "Nuraghi". This particular one is called of "Barumini" after the town where is located. It was discovered in the 50's when an archaeologist excavated a hill, yes a hill! and found a whole complex that was built during the late 2nd millennium B.C., in the Bronze Age, a special type of defensive structure known as nuraghi (for which no parallel exists anywhere else in the world) developed on the island of Sardinia. The complex consists of circular towers in the form of truncated cones built of dressed stone, with corbel-vaulted internal chambers. This complex was enlarged and reinforced in the first half of the 1stmillennium under Carthaginian pressure, and is the finest and most complete example of this remarkable form of prehistoric architecture.
What is remarkable is that the stones used in the buildings is located miles away, and that they are extremely heavy. They are put together in what is called a "Dry" method without the aid of cementing mediums. As with the pyramids, it boggles your mind to even guess how primitive people could have built such gigantic constructions!

A long time ago, while visiting this nuraghi complex, Johnathan, who was small enough to fit in one of these tubs, climbed in and laid down in it, at that time the tub was in perfect condition..... I hope he did not break it!!! Seriously we did wonder if this is the same tub, and what might have happened to it.
This is some type of utensil...grain crusher??? Chopping block??? Mixing bowl?
Taking time out inside the main nuraghi, Evan and Maria Teresa are looking inside a well. The well is built over a stream, which is the main reason why the bronze age sardinians built the nuragic village in this location. They would usually build over a river, so as to have water available, and in the plains, away from hills or mountains for defense reasons... from the top you can see for miles!
Here is a fairly well preserved nuraghi, the cone would go up much more, and end with some buttresses that would hold up a kind of cupola, (or at least that is one of the latest theories). The fireplace pit would be in the middle.

A view from the top, we can observe all the single buildings in various stages of disrepair.
Here we are inside the complex in what we could call the "yard". The stairs take us inside the nuraghi, lots of climbing up and down, and squeezing through very tight spots!
Another "kitchen/living room" it must have been quite cozy in there!