Santa Cristina Archaeological area is placed in center-western Sardinia. It is located in the municipal territory of Paulilatino (Oristano), on the Abbasanta upland: it is one of the most well-known and characteristic sacred sites of Sardinian protohistory. Santa Cristina was an important area during different periods, from the Bronze Age to the Middle Ages, until the modern times. The archaeological site is divided in two areas, between which it is the country church dedicated to Saint Cristina and the traditional “cumbessias”. - Northeast area: characterized in well temple and various structures connected to it. - Southwest area: characterized in simple nuraghe and huts of different periods. The well temple (Final Bronze Age / First Iron Age) is consisted of large basalt blocks perfectly squared and arranged in regular courses, according to isodomum technique, and it is made up of three parts: - ATRIUM - Rectangular space from which it accesses to the sacred area and the well. - STAIRCASE - It is maybe the most characteristic part of the temple. It consists of 25 steps bestowing a trapezoidal form on it and of a overturned stair roofing. - THOLOS - Proceeding to the staircase it enters into the well chamber. It is a conical and hypogeal tower, m 6,90 high. The bottom of the well is a tank cut out of the basaltic rock having in the middle a circular settling tray, m 0,50 deep. Over the chamber it is a circular space dedicated to rituals related to water worship. Part of this is characterized by a bench seat, to the purpose to host the participating communities. It is possible the area was part of an indoor structure, theory undergoing study. Finally, the perfect smoothness and precise cut of the stones makes Santa Cristina sacred well an excellent example of the technical perfection achieved of the Nuragic architecture.

Metadata	Information
Source	The Cyprus Institute - STARC
Europeana Rights	Free access_no re_use
Heritage Asset Type	Archaeological area