Archaeologists Unearth 3,000-Year-Old Giant Statues in Sardinian Necropolis
The seven-foot statues have expressionless faces—and a mysterious history
Elizabeth Djinis
Daily Correspondent
May 11, 2022
The giants of Mont'e Prama are thought to be 3,000 years old. DedaloNur via Wikimedia Commons under CC BY-SA 3.0
The faces of the towering sculpted giants of the Sardinian necropolis are eerie—they bear an almost emotionless expression that recalls the Greek Archaic smile. Their deep-set eyes and blocky noses seem to betray a feeling of protectiveness, even world-weariness.
Even more unique is their stature—some are almost seven feet tall—and their age. Scholars date the artifacts back nearly 3,000 years to between roughly 850 and 750 B.C.E.
Now, they have even more to study. A new excavation at the Sardinian necropolis of Mont’e Prama recently turned up torsos of two more towering statues of boxers. Researchers identified them by the distinctive shields around their midsection, similar to two others found nearby in 2014, reports the Guardian’s Angela Giuffrida.
“It’s an exceptional discovery,” says Dario Franceschini, Italy’s minister of culture, in a statement. “Two new jewels are added to this statue group with its mysterious fascination, capable of attracting the attention of the whole world.”
More:
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/archaeologists-reveal-3000-year-old-giant-statues-sardinian-necropolis-180980061/
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