Dinamiche di popolamento nella Sardegna centrale: il caso dell’altopiano di Abbasanta nella protostoria

This study examines settlement dynamics on the Abbasanta Plateau in central-western Sardinia during the Bronze Age. Based on a bibliographic review and field surveys, 140 nuraghe and 228 giants’ tombs were recorded and analysed using spatial and visibility-based GIS methods, examining their density, proximity, altitudinal distribution, and intervisibility. Results show that nuraghi are predominantly concentrated along the margins of the plateau, especially near minor valleys, forming closely spaced clusters characterised by functional and visual interconnection. Intervisibility and proximity analyses suggest a strategic placement related to access to resources, communication routes, and territorial control. Overall, the distribution shows both high local den- sities and broader-scale dispersion, pointing to adaptive settlement strategies shaped by the land- scape. Further research integrating relative chronologies will help clarify the relationships between nuraghi and giants’ tombs.