The necropolis of Is Loccis Santus, consisting of 13 domus de janas burials, is one of the most important in Sulcis, along with that of Montessu in Villaperuccio.
Scholars ascribe its first use, with the excavation of the caves, to the Recent Neolithic, around 3000 B.C., when the Ozieri Culture spread throughout Sardinia.
But the largest number of finds in these burials belongs to the “bell-shaped vase” Culture, which takes its name from the bell-shaped vase characteristic of this era and was spread throughout Europe.
It consists of pottery decorated with rows of dots and marks filled with different colored material on a black or dark background, of great aesthetic value.
These finds are now on display at the “Villa Sulcis” Museum in Carbonia and are part of the Doneddu Collection.
The necropolis of Is Loccis Santus was in use for many centuries, at least until the beginning of the 2nd millennium BC, before being abandoned.
One of the most interesting aspects of this site is the shape of the caves: some of them, in fact, have a planimetry reminiscent of a flower with petals, characteristic of Sulcis, which is not found anywhere else in Sardinia.
We can also distinguish the third tomb on the right from the entrance to the area, which is characterized by a particularly accurate and important architecture, with longitudinal planimetric development and access dromos, and tomb IV, located in the highest part of the necropolis, with a plan similar to the previous one and an access corridor paved in small pebbles.
A felled menhir is also identified at this burial; numerous others are still found in the areas surrounding the site.
On the high ground behind the necropolis a small single-tower nuraghe, partly collapsed, is preserved.
But the beauty of this archaeological site is not only related to the traces of ancient civilizations.
On the top of the hill, in fact, some anti-aircraft emplacements from World War II are preserved (both of these emergencies are unfortunately not open to visitors).
Finally, one of the most beautiful views of Sulcis can be observed from this area, with views of the island and lagoon of Sant’Antioco to the west, the island of San Pietro to the north, and the Gulf of Palmas to Cape Teulada to the south.
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