Between the 15th and 10th century BC the main tower and the first group of huts were built.

In the 9th century BC the site underwent a deep transformation: a bastion incorporated the existing tower and a secondary tower (tower B) was added; large buildings were constructed, including the Meeting Hut.

Between the 9th and 8th century BC most of the huts visible today and the wall enclosing the central core, the outer wall, were built.

At the end of the 8th century BC, after a violent fire whose traces are still evident, the site was abandoned and later only sporadically frequented, as Punic and Roman materials show.

THE FORTIFIED CORE

The heart of the complex is the keep, built with roughly hewn limestone blocks in not always regular courses. Inside, the chamber still preserves its tholos ceiling.

The keep is partly wrapped by an elliptical bastion with courtyard, corridor and stairs to the upper levels. The bastion links the keep to a secondary tower, now collapsed, built with carefully worked sandstone blocks.

The Nuragic people also restored their monuments: part of the limestone facing of the bastion reveals a later Nuragic restoration.

Around the bastion runs a wide outer wall, vaguely pentagonal, with four tower-huts.

THE VILLAGE

Around the fortified core extended the village, of which about fifty circular huts are visible today; originally 150 to 200 are estimated.

The huts stood isolated or in small groups, often around a common space. Inside were hearths and large jars sunk into the floor for storing food and liquids. None has preserved its original roof of wooden poles and branches.

Near the village, by the present Pera Pons roadman’s house, are two giants’ tombs, interpreted as the funerary area of the complex.

THE MEETING HUT

Built south-west of the bastion, it is the largest room of the complex: a public building for collective matters, rites and ceremonies.

Along the walls ran a bench that could seat about 43 people. Inside are still a small sandstone throne-seat and, at the centre, a sacred stone carved as a nuraghe tower, the tower-betil. The original is in the Sanna Museum in Sassari; a copy stands on site.

The outer wall may also have had a defensive function, but is interpreted mainly as a separation between the fortified core and the village; according to this reading, the notables lived inside it.

Finds, bone remains and shells outline a mixed economy based on farming, herding, fishing and hunting.

Antonio Taramelli began excavations in 1904, assisted by Filippo Nissardi: for its methods it is considered the first scientific exploration of a nuraghe.

Between 1961 and 1963 further investigations brought to light much of the visible village, with restoration of the structures.

In the 1970s Alberto Moravetti began a general review of the complex to reconstruct its stratigraphy and building phases.

Alberto Moravetti, Il complesso nuragico di Palmavera, Sardegna Archeologica. Guide e Itinerari, 20, Carlo Delfino editore.

Nuraghe Palmavera, “Il Sito”.

IDESE, “Palmavera Nuraghe”.

SardegnaTurismo, “Nuraghe Palmavera”.

The toponym Palmavera is traced to the Logudorese parma fera, “wild palm”, identified with the dwarf palm (Chamaerops humilis), widespread in this part of the Nurra.