Anatomy of an archeological excursion

It's hot. The air won't move. Sunblock just slides off our bodies with sweat. We buy bottles of cold water but half way through they are lukewarm. We've already lost an hour getting lost in a small town looking for a place to eat. The kids are spent and asking when we can return to the pool. It's our last day in Sardegna and we have ruins to see. 

 

The island of Sardegna is dotted with thousands of Nuraghic Ruins - remains from a civilization that lived here during the Bronze Age from 1900 - 730 BC. The ruins range from beehive shaped towers to semi-circle shaped tombs to entire villages. There is still much to uncover and understand.  

We've driven by dozens of sites - never stopping but now we are in the heart of some of the most significant remains. We've picked the hottest part of the day though. 

 

We scurry from shady spot to shady spot. Lucas is reminded of Asterix and Obelisk - the French cartoon he used to read. Although they were Gauls. 

The doorway at the "entrance" is not really an entry point although the kids crawl in and out of it. It is supposed to be a symbolic doorway for the living to preserve a connection with the dead. 

  

Italians always remind us that Sards are attached to their land - not the Sea. They were Shepards and only became fishermen when it was imposed on them. It is clear that these inland settlers were also attached to the interior. 

We've only driven about 20 km inland but between the heat and getting lost this is feeling like a major excursion. 

The kids are asking if we are done yet but we move onto one more down the road. Archeologists are actively excavating this impressive village. The description of its various parts are in shakey English. 

  

The temperature feels five degrees cooler inside of this tower. We linger awhile. The kids are playing some kind of "gotcha last" game. 

  

We finally pile in the car, blasting the AC. We make our way back. It is clear the kids are attached to the Sea. 

We're hoping that some day, they are drawn back to this place - maybe in the cool of a library with their nose in a book about Nuraghic culture. 

For now, they are asking if we can change the radio station because they have already heard this song. 

Ciao e Baci

Nancy