Page:History of Art in Sardinia, Judæa, Syria and Asia Minor Vol 1.djvu/67

 NuRAGHS. 49 similar in fact to modern truddhi, save that their stones were on a much larger pattern. Local opinion is divided as to the end for which specchie were erected — whether as monumental tombs, houses, strong signal towers, or alarm posts, against inroads by land and notably by sea. Their name, and their being often met on the sea-shore, lend colouring to the latter hypothesis, which is further strengthened by the area they sometimes occupy, the Colona specchia, between Lecce and Otranto, measuring 257 metres at the base, whilst the best preserved side is still 17 Fig. 35.— Truddhu. Otranto, metres, e.g. the exact dimensions of agglomerated nûraghs. Were specchie thoroughly explored, much light would be obtained as to their plan, arrangement, and probable destination ; meanwhile we must be satisfied with assumptions of a more or less speculative character in regard to them. The oldest inhabitants of that part of Italy were the Iapyges and Messapians, who remained uncivilized until they became acquainted with Tarentum, and who are naturally credited with the building of the towers under notice. The type once adopted in this outlying district was persisted in by successive genera- tions with no appreciative change ; contemporaneously with the VOL. I. E