Monte d'Accoddi is a Neolithic archaeological site in northern Sardinia, located in the territory of Sassari. The site consists of a massive raised stone platform thought to have been an altar. It was constructed by the Ozieri culture or earlier, with the oldest parts dated to around 4,000–3,650 BC.[1][2]
The site was discovered in 1954 in a field owned by the Segni family. The original structure was built by the Ozieri culture or earlier c. 4,000–3,650 BC and has a base of 27m by 27m and probably reached a height of 5.5m. It culminated in a platform of about 12.5m by 7.2m, accessible via a ramp. No chambers or entrances to the mound have been found, leading to the presumption it was an altar, a temple or a step pyramid.[3][4] It may have also served an observational function, as its square plan is coordinated with the cardinal points of the compass.[5]
Between 3500 and 3000 BC the remains of the original structure were completely covered with a layered mixture of earth and stone, and large blocks of limestone were then applied to establish a second platform, forming a step pyramid (36m × 29m, about 10m in height), accessible by means of a second ramp, 42m long, built over the older one.[6][5] This second temple resembles Mesopotamianziggurats, and is attributed to the Sub-Ozieri period.[7]
Archeological excavations from the chalcolithic Abealzu-Filigosa layers indicate the Monte d'Accoddi was used for animal sacrifice, with the remains of sheep, cattle, and swine recovered in near equal proportions.[8] It is among the earliest known sacrificial sites in Western Europe, providing insight into the development of ritual in prehistoric society,[8] and earning it a designation as "the most singular cultic monument in the early Western Mediterranean".[9]
Bell Beaker pottery appears at Monte d'Accoddi after c. 2500 BC. Finds include hemispheric bowls, cups, tripods or tetrapods, and carenated bowls. Vessels were decorated in the 'pure Maritime style', as well as with more complex arrangements of triangles or zigzags.[10]
The Monte d'Accoddi site appears to have been abandoned again around 1800 BC, at the onset of the Nuragic age.
Based on the evidence of architecture, ritual deposits and diagnostic pottery, G. and M. Webster argued, in 2017 & 2019, for the monument's status as a product of a migration event (probably exilic) initiated from Mesopotamia, during the first half of the 4th millennium B.C.E.[11]
Surrounding area
Monte d'Accoddi settlement, reconstruction
The surroundings of the Monte d'Accoddi have been excavated in the 1960s, and have provided the signs of a considerable sacred center. Near the south-eastern corner of the monument there is a dolmen, and across the ramp stands a considerable menhir, one of several standing stones which was formerly found in the vicinity. The foundations of several small structures (possibly residential) were excavated, and several mysterious carved stones. The most impressive of these is a large boulder carved into the shape of an egg and then cut through on a subtle curving three-dimensional line.[5][12]
Reconstruction
The monument was partially reconstructed during the 1980s. It is open to the public and accessible by the old route of SS131 highway, near the hamlet of Ottava. It is 14,9 km from Sassari. There is no public transportation to the site. The opening times vary throughout the year.[13]
Female statuette recovered from the site, dated to 3200–2700 BC
Ozieri stele, c. 3500–2700 BC, from Monte d'Accoddi
The carved boulder
Sources
Ercole Contu, Monte d'Accoddi (Sassari). Problematiche di studio e di ricerca di un singolare monumento preistorico, Oxford 1984.
S. Tinè, S. Bafico, T. Mannoni, "Monte d'Accoddi e la Cultura di Ozieri", in La Cultura di Ozieri: problematiche e nuove acquisizioni, Ozieri 1989, pp. 19–36.
Ercole Contu, "L'altare preistorico di Monte d'Accoddi" Sardegna Digital Library
Contu, Ercole (2000). (PDF). Sassari: Carlo Delfino editore. ISBN88-7138-206-4. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2013-04-12.
"Monte D'Accoddi: where in Italy you'll feel like you're in Mesopotamia"
G. Webster and M. Webster 2017. Punctuated Insularity. The Archaeology of 4th and 3rd millennium Sardinia, Oxford: BAR International Series 2871; Webster, G. 2019. "Identifying Monte D'Accoddi, Sardinia's 4th-millennium ziggurat", Sardinia, Corsica et Baleares Antiquae XVII, 39-59.
References
^Ercole Contu. (PDF). Sardegnacultura.it. p. 14. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2006-09-01. Retrieved 2015-04-25.
^(PDF). Arheologija.ff.uni.lj.si. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2015-04-25.
^Ercole Contu (2000). L'altare preistorico di Monte d'Accoddi. C. Delfino. ISBN978-88-7138-206-7.
^Estética, Sección De (2014-04-19). "Tocho T8: El santuario de Monte accoddi (Cerdeña), o un ziggurat extraviado". Tocho T8. Retrieved 2021-09-04.
^ abcA. Sinclair & J. Bradbury; Megaliths and their Mysteries; 1979; pp. 109–112; ISBN0-02-609730-3
^Melis, Maria Grazia. "Monte d'Accoddi and the end of the Neolithic in Sardinia (Italy)". Documenta Praehistorica. 38 (207).
^Melis, Maria Grazia (2011). "Monte d'Accoddi and the end of the Neolithic in Sardinia (Italy)". Documenta Praehistorica. 38 (207): 207–219. New radiocarbon dating from sites in the South of Sardinia and recent data that has been published about craft production relating to the shrine allow us to date the building of the first monument (4000–3650 calBC) to the Ozieri facies (period), with the second shrine dating to the Sub Ozieri (3500–3000 calBC) facies (period).
^ abJones O'Day, Sharyn; Van Neer, Wim; Ervynck, Anton (2004). Behaviour Behind Bones: The Zooarchaeology of Ritual, Religion, Status and Identity. Oxbow Books. pp. 35–41. ISBN1-84217-113-5.
^Dyson, Stephen L.; Rowland, Robert J. (2007). Archaeology and History in Sardinia from the Stone Age to the Middle Ages. University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology. pp. 35–41. ISBN978-1934536-02-5.
^Melis, Maria Grazia. "Monte d'Accoddi and the end of the Neolithic in Sardinia (Italy)". Documenta Praehistorica. 38 (207).
^Montalbano, Pierluigi (2016-02-28). "Quotidiano Honebu di Storia e Archeologia: Il santuario di Monte d'Accoddi, spigolature su un singolare toponimo della Sardegna, di Roberto Casti". Quotidiano Honebu di Storia e Archeologia. Retrieved 2021-09-04.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
^"Monte D'Accoddi: where in Italy you'll feel like you're in Mesopotamia". 203 Challenges. 14 November 2021.
March 05, 2023
monte, accoddi, neolithic, archaeological, site, northern, sardinia, located, territory, sassari, site, consists, massive, raised, stone, platform, thought, have, been, altar, constructed, ozieri, culture, earlier, with, oldest, parts, dated, around, view, fro. Monte d Accoddi is a Neolithic archaeological site in northern Sardinia located in the territory of Sassari The site consists of a massive raised stone platform thought to have been an altar It was constructed by the Ozieri culture or earlier with the oldest parts dated to around 4 000 3 650 BC 1 2 Monte d AccoddiView from the base of Monte d AccoddiShown within SardiniaTypeMonumentHistoryCulturesOzieri Abealzu FiligosaSite notesConditionreconstructedManagementI Beni Culturali della SardegnaPublic accessyesWebsiteSassari Tempio altare di Monte d Accoddi in Italian Coordinates 40 47 28 N 8 26 56 E 40 79111 N 8 44889 E 40 79111 8 44889History Edit Monte d Accoddi reconstruction c 3500 3000 BC The site was discovered in 1954 in a field owned by the Segni family The original structure was built by the Ozieri culture or earlier c 4 000 3 650 BC and has a base of 27 m by 27 m and probably reached a height of 5 5 m It culminated in a platform of about 12 5 m by 7 2 m accessible via a ramp No chambers or entrances to the mound have been found leading to the presumption it was an altar a temple or a step pyramid 3 4 It may have also served an observational function as its square plan is coordinated with the cardinal points of the compass 5 Between 3500 and 3000 BC the remains of the original structure were completely covered with a layered mixture of earth and stone and large blocks of limestone were then applied to establish a second platform forming a step pyramid 36 m 29 m about 10 m in height accessible by means of a second ramp 42 m long built over the older one 6 5 This second temple resembles Mesopotamian ziggurats and is attributed to the Sub Ozieri period 7 Archeological excavations from the chalcolithic Abealzu Filigosa layers indicate the Monte d Accoddi was used for animal sacrifice with the remains of sheep cattle and swine recovered in near equal proportions 8 It is among the earliest known sacrificial sites in Western Europe providing insight into the development of ritual in prehistoric society 8 and earning it a designation as the most singular cultic monument in the early Western Mediterranean 9 Bell Beaker pottery appears at Monte d Accoddi after c 2500 BC Finds include hemispheric bowls cups tripods or tetrapods and carenated bowls Vessels were decorated in the pure Maritime style as well as with more complex arrangements of triangles or zigzags 10 The Monte d Accoddi site appears to have been abandoned again around 1800 BC at the onset of the Nuragic age Based on the evidence of architecture ritual deposits and diagnostic pottery G and M Webster argued in 2017 amp 2019 for the monument s status as a product of a migration event probably exilic initiated from Mesopotamia during the first half of the 4th millennium B C E 11 Surrounding area Edit Monte d Accoddi settlement reconstruction The surroundings of the Monte d Accoddi have been excavated in the 1960s and have provided the signs of a considerable sacred center Near the south eastern corner of the monument there is a dolmen and across the ramp stands a considerable menhir one of several standing stones which was formerly found in the vicinity The foundations of several small structures possibly residential were excavated and several mysterious carved stones The most impressive of these is a large boulder carved into the shape of an egg and then cut through on a subtle curving three dimensional line 5 12 Reconstruction EditThe monument was partially reconstructed during the 1980s It is open to the public and accessible by the old route of SS131 highway near the hamlet of Ottava It is 14 9 km from Sassari There is no public transportation to the site The opening times vary throughout the year 13 Gallery Edit Monte d Accoddi The dolmen and a carved boulder in the foreground The menhir standing stone One of the altars Female statuette recovered from the site dated to 3200 2700 BC Ozieri stele c 3500 2700 BC from Monte d Accoddi The carved boulder Sources EditErcole Contu Monte d Accoddi Sassari Problematiche di studio e di ricerca di un singolare monumento preistorico Oxford 1984 S Tine S Bafico T Mannoni Monte d Accoddi e la Cultura di Ozieri in La Cultura di Ozieri problematiche e nuove acquisizioni Ozieri 1989 pp 19 36 Ercole Contu L altare preistorico di Monte d Accoddi Sardegna Digital Library Contu Ercole 2000 The Prehistoric Altar of Monte d Accoddi PDF Sassari Carlo Delfino editore ISBN 88 7138 206 4 Archived from the original PDF on 2013 04 12 Monte D Accoddi where in Italy you ll feel like you re in Mesopotamia G Webster and M Webster 2017 Punctuated Insularity The Archaeology of 4th and 3rd millennium Sardinia Oxford BAR International Series 2871 Webster G 2019 Identifying Monte D Accoddi Sardinia s 4th millennium ziggurat Sardinia Corsica et Baleares Antiquae XVII 39 59 References Edit Ercole Contu L altare preistorico di Monte d Acoddi PDF Sardegnacultura it p 14 Archived from the original PDF on 2006 09 01 Retrieved 2015 04 25 Monte d Accoddi and the end of the Neolithic in Sardinia Italy PDF Arheologija ff uni lj si Archived from the original PDF on 2016 03 04 Retrieved 2015 04 25 Ercole Contu 2000 L altare preistorico di Monte d Accoddi C Delfino ISBN 978 88 7138 206 7 Estetica Seccion De 2014 04 19 Tocho T8 El santuario de Monte accoddi Cerdena o un ziggurat extraviado Tocho T8 Retrieved 2021 09 04 a b c A Sinclair amp J Bradbury Megaliths and their Mysteries 1979 pp 109 112 ISBN 0 02 609730 3 Melis Maria Grazia Monte d Accoddi and the end of the Neolithic in Sardinia Italy Documenta Praehistorica 38 207 Melis Maria Grazia 2011 Monte d Accoddi and the end of the Neolithic in Sardinia Italy Documenta Praehistorica 38 207 207 219 New radiocarbon dating from sites in the South of Sardinia and recent data that has been published about craft production relating to the shrine allow us to date the building of the first monument 4000 3650 calBC to the Ozieri facies period with the second shrine dating to the Sub Ozieri 3500 3000 calBC facies period a b Jones O Day Sharyn Van Neer Wim Ervynck Anton 2004 Behaviour Behind Bones The Zooarchaeology of Ritual Religion Status and Identity Oxbow Books pp 35 41 ISBN 1 84217 113 5 Dyson Stephen L Rowland Robert J 2007 Archaeology and History in Sardinia from the Stone Age to the Middle Ages University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology pp 35 41 ISBN 978 1934536 02 5 Melis Maria Grazia Monte d Accoddi and the end of the Neolithic in Sardinia Italy Documenta Praehistorica 38 207 G amp M Webster 2017 29 G Webster 2019 53 Montalbano Pierluigi 2016 02 28 Quotidiano Honebu di Storia e Archeologia Il santuario di Monte d Accoddi spigolature su un singolare toponimo della Sardegna di Roberto Casti Quotidiano Honebu di Storia e Archeologia Retrieved 2021 09 04 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint url status link Monte D Accoddi where in Italy you ll feel like you re in Mesopotamia 203 Challenges 14 November 2021 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Monte d 27Accoddi amp oldid 1142247186, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
