A journey through dolmens and the “sacred stones” of Sardinia’s prehistory

From Arzachena to Laconi, Mores and Birori, let’s discover 10 archaeological sites to admire dolmens, menhirs and prehistoric monoliths, the oldest and most fascinating in Sardinia.

Even before the rise of the majestic Nuragic towers, before alphabet and writing, prehistoric Sardinia was already home to a profound spirituality shaped through stone. Dolmens, menhirs, megalithic tombs, ritual altars, they spread – still today – all around the island’s wild landscape, testifying local communities deep relationship with nature, sky, even death.

These mysterious megalithic structures – collective tombs, votive steles, ceremonial figures – were not simply ornamental constructions, but expressions of a symbolic and religious world where worship of ancestor, observation of skies, landscape’s sacredness and community life intertwined in a unified, powerful and evocative vision of the world, a real fragment of an elder collective memory, like a threshold that allows crossing boundaries of time and access a lost world, made up of rites, symbols and knowledge now almost forgotten.

Megalithic roots of Sardinia: dolmens and menhirs between cults, mystery and landscape

The ancient island of Ichnusa still preserves some of the most extraordinary prehistoric testimonies from the Mediterranean: majestic monolithic structures and cultures developed around Neolithic and Eneolithic, well before the advent of the better-known Nuragic civilization. Among these, dolmens and menhirs stand out, imposing stone monuments that shaped the Sardinian landscape and still reveal a complex system of beliefs, rituals and astronomical knowledge.

Dolmens are funerary structures made of vertical slabs supporting a horizontal roof, creating a sort of burial chamber. They were often used for collective burials and were related to the worship of ancestors and the sacredness of the land. Many Sardinian dolmens are still oriented according to astronomical criteria, demonstrating the deep connection between these constructions and cosmic cycles.

Menhirs, instead, are single or aligned vertical monoliths whose function remains partly mysterious. It is hypothesized that they may have served as territorial markers, symbols of power, ritual objects, or even means for observing the sky. Some have geometric or anthropomorphic carvings, suggesting a connection with fertility cults or representations of archaic deities. Whatever their purpose, these monoliths remain some of the most powerful icons of spirituality in prehistoric Sardinian.

Menhirs and dolmens in Sardinia: 10 must-see places to visit them

Sardinia is a real treasure of prehistoric remains, where menhirs and dolmens tell stories of ancient civilizations and thousand-years-old rituals. These megalithic monuments, scattered across the island, are extraordinary works of primitive engineering and also places steeped in mystery and spirituality.

Let’s discover together ten must-see sites for who wishes to visit the most ancestral and authentic side of Sardinia.

1. Dolmen of Ladas – Luras (SS)

In the granite territory of Luras, on the northern edge of Gallura’s hinterland, stand Ladas and Ciuledda dolmens, built around 2800-2500BC. The Dolmen of Ladas is the best preserved and consists of a large horizontal slab resting on two lateral supports, forming a covered rectangular chamber likely used for collective burials. Both are distinguished by the precision in carving and fitting granite stones, showing remarkable technical skill, even more so considering the poor technical knowledge of the time. The site is located within a rural landscape surrounded by centuries-old wild olive trees and rocks shaped by the wind.

2. Biru ‘e Concas – Sorgono (NU)

An exceptional site in terms of size and concentration, Biru ‘e Concas – in the western side of Gennargentu – host over 200 menhirs distributed over gentle hill sides and plateaus. Some are simple smooth steles, some others engraved with stylized weapons or icons representing male and female shapes: sacred beings, deified ancestors or cosmic entities. The menhirs predominant orientation goes east-west, and some are aligned with solstices and equinoxes, suggesting an astronomical and ritual function. The site has also yielded ceramic pieces and ritual hearths, evidence of prolonged use as a ceremonial site. The natural environment surrounding the site – a cork oak forest – contributes to such a mystical experience.

3. Menhir of Monte Corru Tundu – Villa Sant’Antonio (OR)

Within the quiet countryside of Alta Marmilla, the Menhir of Monte Corru Tundu is one of the tallest and most majestic in Sardinia, standing 5.75 meters tall. Made of local trachytic tuff, this monolith erected in Late Neolithic age (between 3200-2850 BC) features a tapered and smooth shape, with a round side and a flatter one, proof to potential anthropomorphic purpose. In addition to its impressive size, the menhir is interesting for its strategic location at the foot of the mountain from which it takes its own name: a spot chosen for its visibility over the surrounding area, probably, and for its iconic or ritual function, perhaps bound to the worship of ancestors or for defining sacred spaces.

4. Menhir of Corte Noa – Laconi (OR)

In the basaltic heart of Sarcidano region, the Corte Noa archaeological site hosts a series of menhirs of extraordinary craftsmanship, up to 3 meters tall and made of red trachyte or gray basalt, many of which display clear anthropomorphic characteristic. A male figure with a helmet and prominent nose stands out, as does a female figure with exposed breasts: the expression of a sacred dualism of fertility and the cycle of life and death. The land, now immersed in a nature park, keeps also the remains of huts and ceremonial buildings, part of a complex cult probably related to the burial of dead and seasonal rituals.

5. Dolmen of Motorra – Dorgali (NU)

Located on a slight rise overlooking Cedrino Valley, the Dolmen of Motorra is built entirely of basalt stone and consists of eight vertical rectangular slabs shaping the walls of a burial chamber, topped by a large and irregularly shaped covering slab as a roof. The dolmen was used as a collective tomb, as confirmed by human remains and ceramic materials found inside on archaeological excavations. Its dominant position over the valley and the strength of its construction suggest a relevant role in local Neolithic communities, both as a sacred site and as a symbolic and territorial landmark. Its south-east orientation, toward the rising sun, also speaks of a connection to astronomical and ritual functions.

6. Dolmen of Sa Coveccada – Mores (SS)

Located in the heart of the historical and geographical region of Meilogu, Sa Coveccada is one of the largest and most complex dolmens in Sardinia. The monument, a trapezoidal burial chamber, is approximately 5 meters long and 2.20 meters wide and is surmounted by a horizontal slab as roof. The dolmen was likely covered by an earthen mound, now lost, that hid its megalithic shape. Many artifacts found in the site, such as pieces of decorated pottery and stone tools, attest to a collective funerary use dating back to the 4th millennium BC. It’s interesting to note the presence of evidence of renovation over time, thus suggesting that the site had a lasting ritual significance for the Neolithic communities inhabiting this area.

7. Menhir and statues of Monte Prama – Cabras (OR)

Monte Prama is one of the most significant sites in Sardinian prehistory, known for its large menhirs and especially for the sandstone statues depicting human figures, a uniqueness in the Mediterranean zone. The menhirs around here are not simple monoliths, as they are usually associated with statues of warriors, archers and boxers – known as “giants” – up to 2 meters in height. These finds, dated around 1100-900 BC, point to a Nuragic culture that gave great relevance on the representation of heroes and deities, likely for funerary or cult practices. The stone-working technique and the strategic location on Cabras plain, near the saltpans of Mistras, speak of a symbolic and territorial function where monoliths marked out sacred spaces and areas of social control.

8. Menhirs of S’Uraki – Sant’Antioco (SU)

The Menhirs of S’Uraki are located in a highly evocative landscape, on a hill overlooking the seaside at Sant’Antioco. These granite monoliths are notable for their anthropomorphic carvings, representing human figures and deities, and their impressive size. The site appears to have had a symbolic function related to the protection of the territory and ritual practices revolving around the cycle of life and fertility, given the traces of rituals found nearby such as votive offerings and ceramics. Moreover, the menhirs dominant position may have served as a watch-point over the territory and also for maritime communication routes.

9. Dolmen of Monte Maone – Benetutti (SS)

Not far from the town of Benetutti stands the Dolmen of Monte Maone, one of the most interesting examples of prehistoric funerary architecture in Sardinia. Dating to Late Neolithic (Ozieri culture), the monument consists of a rectangular burial chamber approximately 1.75 meters long, preceded by a small trapezoidal atrium. This structure’s distinctive feature is the combined use of fixed stones and bedrock, integrating natural elements with human-made construction. Originally covered by a burial mound, more likely the dolmen housed collective burials, as evidenced by the archaeological remains discovered here. Its isolated location makes it a place steeped in spirituality, perfect for who seeks an authentic and meditative experience away from the mainstream tourist routes.

10. Stele of Boeli – Arzachena (SS)

The Stele of Boeli, also known as Sa Perda Pintà (in Italian “drawn stone”), is certainly a unique find – not a common menhir or stele, because it’s a thin and flat slab, rather than a large and upright monolith. What makes it even more special is that the part embedded in the ground is decorated with concentric circles, a sign that the whole slab, both visible and buried sides, was integral to its symbolic and ritual function. This suggests a more complex and intimate use than traditional menhirs, lending Boeli to a special role for what concerns religious and cultural practices in prehistoric Sardinian communities. The stele is located in an area rich in nuraghi and more megalithic monuments, shaping a wide sacred landscape to discover stone by stone.

Dolmens, menhirs and five-stars dreams: experience the magic of Sardinia at Forte Village

Spending a holiday at Forte Village means enjoying the exclusive comfort of one of the most renowned five-star facilities in the Mediterranean, a “world’s leading resort” for twenty-six years in a row, being in a strategic position to explore Sardinia’s rich archaeological heritage.

Thanks to its location on the sardinian south-west coast, next to some of the island’s most beautiful beaches and just 45 minutes from the capital town, the Resort offers easy access to the most evocative local menhirs, domus de janas and dolmens, giving the opportunity to combine moments of pure relaxation and well-being with memorable cultural hikes.

The Resort’s complete proposal also features 20 top sports academies, including the beloved ones dedicated to teaching and improving tennis, padel and swimming, creative workshops for children like the Barbie Academy and the educational garden, and the rejuvenating and relaxing thalassotherapy treatments at the Acquaforte Thalasso & Spa, a real sanctuary for body and mind well-being. Last but not least, a selection of gourmet starred restaurants right within the over fifty hectares of greenery of the Resort, including Giuseppe Molaro‘s Belvedere, Massimiliano Mascia‘s Terrazza San Domenico, Heinz Beck‘s Beachcomber and Casa del Custode, the new addition for the summer season 2025.

For further information, call +390709218818 or send an email to holiday@fortevillage.com.

Do you want to discover the history of Sardinia and experience a dream holiday in a true paradise? Discover Forte Village Resort in Sardinia