Mystery Of Monte d’Accoddi: Was It An Ancient Step Pyramid, Altar Or Astronomical Observatory?

A. Sutherland - AncientPages.com - Located in the territory of Sassari near Porto Torres, in northern Sardinia, Italy there is an intriguing ancient site known as Monte d'Accoddi, which represents Sardinia's most impressive prehistoric shrine.

Monte d'Accoddi's ancient site contains an altar, a ziggurat, and a large structure that looks like an ancient temple, or perhaps a step pyramid, but it has not been confirmed.  However, it has not been confirmed the structure is a pyramid. Scientists have also proposed it was once an altar, ziggurat, mound, or perhaps an ancient temple. The structure’s purpose has been widely debated.

Mysterious ancient structure at Monte d’Accoddi. Image credit: Wikipedia

Some scholars have also considered the possibility this place served as an ancient astronomical observatory. The structure 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.

In the 1960s, several archaeological excavations were conducted in the area of Monte d'Accoddi. The necropolis of Monte d’ Accoddi is formed by at least eight hypogea.  Perhaps the most important of these is the Tomba I (Tomb I) or Tomba del Capo (The Chief’s Tomb), with nine cells placed in a rectilinear direction around a main central one.

In the main cellar placed on a lower level, there are two rectangular pillars similar in structure to a house. On the far wall, there is a false door placed between the entrances of two cells, one presents some frame moldings, and the other leads to a cell with a single pillar.

Subterranean Necropolis of Monte d’Accoddi: The tomb of the chief. Image credit: Carlo Delfino

The pillar is adorned on one side by some schematic bovine forms (proteomes) that have been sculpted vertically, and on the other side by crescent moon-shaped bovine horns. Other crescent moon-shaped horns are found to the left of the entrance leading to two interconnecting cells.

Monte d’Accoddi Image credit: Wikipedia

Many mysterious carved stones in the vicinity . 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 found in the vicinity.  This suggests the place was of great importance to people who lived here.

The oldest parts of the excavated site date to around c. 4,000-3,650 B.C. It is believed the mysterious structure was built by the Ozieri culture, a prehistoric pre-Nuragic culture that lived in Sardinia from c. 3200 to 2800 B.C.  Similar menhirs have been found in the nearby Corsica, which attests to the strong influence of the Ozieri people and their traditions on a neighboring society.

The largest nuraghic complex on the island, dated to ca. 1500 BC, is Su Nuraxi. It has been excavated since 1949, but its origins remain obscure

Sardinia holds many ancient secrets still waiting to be fully examined. On the island there are several mysterious stones and impressive, ancient towers called the nuraghi, which began to appear between 1900 and 730 BC. These beehive-like towers are still the island’s greatest mystery.

The Giants' Grave of Coddu Vecchiu. Image credit: Italian Ways

There are also a number of ancient massive tombstones constructed for unknown purpose and of course several unanswered questions concerning the Giants’ graves, or Tomba dei gigantic.

Monte d’Accoddi makes Sardinia’s past even more intriguing.

According to some scholars, Monte d’Accoddi should be considered among the most important architectural manifestations of Mediterranean prehistory.

There are not many ancient pyramids in Europe. Could the structure at Monte d’Accoddi really be considered a step pyramid? If so, what was its purpose?

Unfortunately, our knowledge of this ancient place is partial because of a limited scientific exploration of the area.

Written by – A. Sutherland  - AncientPages.com Senior Staff Writer

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