Parco Naturalistico Archeologico "Sa Fogaia"

WHERE IS IT Sa Fogaia is an Archaeological Natural Park located in the territory of Siddi, about 330 meters s.l.m., on the east side of a basalt plateau called Pranu de Siddi.

DESCRIPTION The Park exhibition spaces where alternate with ilex woods, scrubland and herbaceous populations. So far, 154 different species of plants have been found, belonging to 41 families, even though their real number is certainly much higher. In the park they live inotre different varieties of animals. Up to now have been recognized 63 species of birds (belonging to 32 families), 7 species of mammals (belonging to 6 families), 7 species of reptiles and 5 of Insects. There is also a scenic area, from where you can dominate the characteristic landscape of the Marmilla, gentle and undulating, with that harmonious succession of hills and plains, including "sprouting" the many countries of the region. In the background, in a succession of related to the changing seasons chromatic alternations, the look can go further in several directions, including the jars of Gesturi and Serri, Monte Arci, the Arcuentu, the most imposing peaks of Gennargentu and more .

THE NATURE TRAIL Inside the park you develop a nature trail called "Moors of de is Erbas" (the herb trail), redeploying proceeds partly an old route that siddesi in the past they used to go up the jar. Covering it is possible to see most of the plant species that make up the plant community of Marmilla and southern Sardinia, also helped by the presence of more than 100 wooden tags indicating the names of plants. Continuing along the trail you can reach some old stone fences built the shepherds, various terraces made by farmers for growing, or get to the point where from about 2.5 million years is parked an imposing ridge of basaltic rock. Almost completely covered with lichens, from his observation it is possible to better understand the geological origins of the jar of Siddi and that of the other jars (eg. One of Gesturi), as well as the characteristic hilly environment of Marmilla.

NURAGHE SA Fogaia Reachable through a path and built in a strategic position on a board overhanging, this dolmen is located on the East side of the plateau of Siddi, at an altitude of 325 meters s.l.m., right in the park scenic area. It is a unique corridor nuraghe, complex and irregular, which consists of three large megalithic bodies side by side and several secondary buildings. It has residual height of over 6 meters and was built on the rock with polyhedral blocks dry stacked basalt polygonal. The dolmen can be dated, in its first phase of construction, the initial Middle Bronze. This phase was followed by a second phase of construction nuragica, and another late Punic and Roman. Among the finds made during two excavation campaigns (1993-1994 and 2003-2004) are remembered cups, bowls, vases, bowls and pans belonging to the Middle Bronze Age Home (Bonnannaro B), an awl bronze and ceramic nuragica shattered ( especially in the base layers). Excavations have also brought to light layers Late Punic and Roman, with the discovery of amphorae, fine plates decorated with palms, a burial and very numerous ceramic pieces. The thirteenth and fourteenth centuries are the remains of a pitcher, testifying the attendance of Sa Fogaia well during the Middle Ages.

ACTIVITY 'AND SERVICES In addition to opening day and functioning as an information point, inside the Park are made natural and archaeological tours, educational workshops, exhibitions, presentations, seminars, conferences, cultural events and exhibitions on the world of ornithology, nature and the environment . In the park there are also a fixed route for orienteering activities (orientation), an area for bird ringing of birds, trails and spaces for conducting various recreational activities, cultural and scientific.

Among its oak trees is then a picnic area equipped with tables, hot plates, bathrooms and water points, ideal to spend a day outdoors and in harmony with nature.

HISTORY Always important for siddese communities, Sa Fogaia is frequented by humans since prehistoric times. As reflected in the presence of a dolmen corridor, remains of settlements nuraghic, Punic and Roman, scattered obsidian tied to a workshop processing. More recent are the terraces, the piles of stones (moridinas), pens of shepherds (Cottis), the alignments and the "construction", all signs of the use of this site as ademprivio (ie state-owned land that everyone could use, with the constraints and the payment of taxes, through activities that covered the wood gathering, cultivation and grazing). Also, as the name suggests, in past centuries, the area was probably used for the production of coal. The whole territory of Sa Fogaia, now owned by the City of Siddi, has long been affected by a series of enhancement measures. Sa Fogaia and 'Naturalistic Archaeological Park since 2002. From that year is managed by RTI Sa Fogaia (Cooperative and Cooperative Villa Silli the Historical Memory).