Water-temples of Sardinia : Identification, inventory and interpretation

Sammanfattning: Criteria for identifying prehistoric water-temples among other archaeological remains in Sardinia have not been explicitly discussed so far, making it difficult to investigate this remarkable body of evidence as a whole. This study therefore aims at elaborating a method for identifying water-temples among other fonts and wells in Sardinia, and applying it to produce a preliminary inventory. A theoretical discussion of definable criteria for assessing possible cult status in this context precedes an evaluation of the investigable wells and fonts reported in the island. Buildings found to lack cult correlates are noted in an Appendix, while buildings presenting them are inventoried in a Catalogue. A discussion of the results considering spatial, temporal and cultural aspects follows, leading to a new perspective regarding the genesis of the Sardinian water-temples.