Fonte Sacra Su Tempiesu, Nuragic holy well in Orune, Italy
Fonte Sacra Su Tempiesu is a prehistoric sacred complex in Sardinia featuring a temple structure approximately 7 meters (23 feet) tall from the Nuragic period. It comprises a forecourt, descent stairway, and inner chamber designed to shelter the natural spring, allowing visitors to see how people engineered water access in ancient times.
Construction occurred during the Late Bronze Age around the 13th century BC, with continued use extending into the Iron Age until roughly the 4th century BC. This long period of activity demonstrates how essential this water source remained to local communities across multiple generations.
This place served as a center for ritual practices and sacred offerings in ancient times. Visitors can still sense how people came here to present valuable objects and seek favor from the water source.
The site is accessible during daylight hours and the structure can be viewed from various vantage points and walkways. Arranging a guided visit through local guides helps visitors understand the archaeological details and the significance of what they are seeing.
This is the only known covered sacred well from its era built above ground in Sardinia. The construction used precisely cut trachyte and basalt blocks fitted together with remarkable stone-working skill, showing technical sophistication unexpected for its time.
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