Research on the archaeological complex of Iloi forms part of the Iloi-Sedilo project whose main objective is to reconstruct the dynamics of settlement and territorial transformation from the Neolithic period to the Middle Ages.

Research began in 1987 with the excavation of the Giant’s Tombs 2 (1987-1990) and 1 (1990, 2000). Work undertaken between 2000 and 2005
led to the identification of dwellings which constitute only a part of the settlement which developed around the nuraghe of Iloi. Excavation was mainly undertaken in the north-north western sector of the nuragic village.

The nuraghe and the nuragic village

The locality of Lloi, south-west of Sedilo is situated on the edge of the basalt plateau where a vast pre-nuragic necropolis, the “domus de janus” and a nuragic complex were found.
The nuragic complex comprises an area of habitation and a funerary area.

The nuraghe of Iloi is a complex construction of mixed building techniques, with an irregular plan indicative of the monument’s various construction phases.
The original nucleus can perhaps be identified with the trapezoidal structure which constitutes the western part of the monumental complex and which suggests that it is a corridor nuraghus. The north-west side has a winding profile with two curved tracts interrupted by a recess; a tract of polygonal wall built with large and medium sized irregular blocks is preserved on the south-west side. It was not possible to identify the entrance or the internal structures.
The eastern side of this structure is abutted by a towered trilobed construction with a concave-convex exterior profile. The entrance is obliterated; it is probable that it was situated in correspondence to the short straight part of the south-east side between the two circular towers. The tower to the west of the probable entrance is still partly standing. Access to the eastern tower was through an entrance with architrave in the south-east wall; the interior has a circular plan with a tholos type vault and has a niche on the same axis as the entrance. It was not possible to enter the north tower which was linked to the trapezoidal structure via a corridor leading to the tower on its north side.
The remains of dwellings and part of a walled enclosure were found near the nuraghe. (MiBAC)