Bronze Age Sacred Wells of Sardinia, Italy: Groundwater Access Without Water Utility.

Abstract

In Late Bronze Age Sardinia, Italy (ca. 1350-1200 BC), communities constructed distinctive stone structures centered on vertical shafts intersecting the groundwater table or monumentalized natural springs. Conventionally termed pozzi sacri ("sacred wells") or "well temples" in archeological literature, approximately 66 sites containing 75 monuments have been documented. Included on Italy's Tentative List for UNESCO World Heritage nomination, these monuments have attracted considerable public interest and continue to draw visitors from around the world. These structures feature elaborate masonry, descending staircases, and ritual deposits, yet their design appears poorly optimized for water collection which is significantly different from sacred wells elsewhere in the world. This note examines the physical dimensions of these monuments, highlighting that although excavation depths vary, with some extending significantly below the water table, chambers were designed to accommodate shallow water accumulation rather than deep storage. Using Santa Cristina, Cuccuru Nuraxi, and Su Tempiesu-Orune as case studies, the analysis demonstrates that paved chamber floors and design choices distinguishing these structures from utilitarian wells are consistent across the inventory. While the term "well" implies water extraction, the archeological evidence suggests groundwater may have been conceptualized as a subterranean boundary rather than a primary resource target.