THE WELL OF SANTA CHRISTINA

The Nuragic civilization on Sardinia existed from 1800 BCE (middle Bronze Age) to 238 BCE when the Romans colonized the island. Around 12th or 11th Century BCE, the Nuragic built an extraordinary well. While rituals associated with the Well of Santa Christina are not known, the well does serve as a calendar. The well is located in central Sardinia in the comune of Paulilatino.

 

The lunar hole is at top above the steps

Entrance to the well.

Nearing the well-extraordinary masonry work. The well is nearly 8 ft. in diameter with perfectly curved blocks.

 

How the calendar works:

Twice a year during the Equinoxes in March and September, the sun shines down the stairs reflecting in the waters at the bottom. A person standing on the stairs would see his shadow turned upside-down on the wall of the chamber inside the rays of the sun.

Every 18 years and 6 months, when the moon reaches maximum height in the sky, the light goes down the lunar hole and is reflected on the waters of the well, which becomes covered by the shape of the moon.

The lunar hole

Another amazing example of Bronze Age humans trying to keep track of time. All over the planet, people were building such sites especially as they transitioned from hunter/gatherer societies to agrarian.