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)

The excavations in structures 4, 8 and 9 were undertaken as part of the multidisciplinary research project “Iloi-Sedilo: use of the territory from the Neolithic to medieval period” begun in 1986 and directed by G. Tanda. The project aims to define a methodology for the reconstruction of the environment, economy and territorial organisation in societies from the prehistoric to the medieval period which is suited to the specificity of the Sardinian archaeological patrimony. The locality of Iloi is situated 2.5 km south-west of Sedilo, on the edge of a basalt plateau. The nuragic complex stands at the edge of the plateau which has receded with respect to its original position. It comprises an area with nuraghe and village and a zone reserved for funerary use with two ‘Giant’s’ tombs. The excavation identified numerous residential units with different layouts and functions, which constitute only a part of the settlement which developed around the nuraghe of Iloi. In fact, the settlement is calculated to cover about 2 ha, in which the structures stood, partially within a defensive wall, perhaps with towers. To date thirteen units have been excavated, mainly in the north/north-western sector of the village. Only structures 2 and 5 are situated in the south-west and south-east zones, respectively. In almost all of these buildings the excavations revealed the presence of a substantial deposit inside the rooms, mainly constituted by stones that were either loose or bonded by a small quantity of earth. Most of the structures are circular with diameters varying between 4 – 6.5 m, defined by a base of stones sometimes preserved to a notable height (1.85 m in structure 8) and with thick internal walls circa 0.80 m wide, reaching 1.30 m (structure 8). The walls are dry-stone built with a double facing. The entrances were almost always east-facing (but north-west in structure 4 and south-east in structure 8) and some had steps that were presumably added in a later phase. Inside niches were present in the walls (structure 8) or cupboards also abutted them (structure 9). In structure 2 there was a large niche, partially created using the natural rock and partially masonry-built. Hearths were present in some structures, built up against the wall facing the entranced (structure 3) or simply on the floor (8). The floor surfaces had often been levelled with a layer of beaten earth (8) and/or a paving of stone slabs or cobbles, even on several levels (4 and 9). In structure 8 the edges of the room were paved. At the centre of some huts there was a circular base of basalt (3) or a small column of trachyte stone (9). The group of structures 6-9 and 12-13 constituted an actual insula, grouped around a courtyard (structure 13), in which the circular and elliptical structures appeared linked by narrow, rectilinear walls and small quadrangular or elliptical spaces. Of note is structure 7 in which there was a central hearth and which produced furnishings (a stone basin) and pottery which suggest this space had a cult function.