Abstract In Nuragic Sardinia, growing evidence indicates that during the Final Bronze Age, and continuing into the Early Iron Age, a reconfiguration of the Nuragic ideological framework took place, with formal sanctuaries assuming a central role in ritual practice. In a limited number of cases, however, ritualised or cultic activities continued within pre-existing Nuragic complexes. Nuraghe Barru, in south-central Sardinia, provides an example of this phenomenon. Here, a sealed cistern-well containing a ceramic assemblage, together with nearby metal deposits, points to a transformation in the monument’s function during its later phases of use. This study investigates the significance of these ritualised deposits, focusing on their embedding within broader networks of production and circulation in late Nuragic Sardinia. An integrated methodological approach combines typological analysis with ceramic petrography on pottery from the cistern-well, alongside portable X-ray fluorescence (pXRF) analysis of associated metal artefacts. These datasets serve as proxies for examining mobility, exchange, and material selection. Petrographic results reveal a predominance of non-local ceramic fabrics, suggesting connectivity and inter-community interaction. pXRF analysis provides a preliminary compositional characterisation of the metal artefacts, identifying copper-rich, low-tin alloys that may support interpretations emphasising symbolic rather than strictly functional roles. Considered within their archaeological context, the Barru assemblages are interpreted as the outcome of a structured ritual episode. More broadly, the study suggests that such practices reflect transformations in the social and symbolic role of certain nuraghi during the Final Bronze Age–Early Iron Age transition, contributing to our understanding of ritual behaviour and connectivity in late Nuragic Sardinia.
Amicone et al. (Thu,) studied this question.