The excavations uncovered evidence supporting the theory that the site is the abandoned post-medieval village of Villanova Montesanto. This hypothesis had been formulated based on: 1. the majority of the pottery found on the surface appeared datable to the 16th-17th century; 2. the written sources, which identified this phase of the early modern period as the time in which the village, abandoned by 1655, was at the height of its expansion; 3. the presence on the site of the church of San Vincenzo and the existence in the oral memory of the nearby community of Siligo of the village of Biddanoa; 4. the geomagnetic surveys which suggested the presence of a large area of buried structures. The find of large domestic rubbish dumps datable to between the 15th century and the mid 17th century provided further evidence for the identification of the site as the village. Based on recently discovered written sources it is thought that the village of Villanova Montesanto (or of Villanueva MonctiSanti) covered, at least in the 16th-17th century, an area of 1 starello (4.000 m2), with 23 houses (hearths) censured in 1627. However, the spatial organisation can only be hypothesised at present. The grouping of the middens suggests that the dwellings were situated in the areas above, in particular on a low rise opposite the small terrace on which the church of San Vincenzo Ferrer stands. Close by, at the same level, changes in the height of the terrain seem to indicate the presence of the residential area. Although a Punic bronze coin of the Kore / horse facing right (375/60-340/25 ? B.C.) type was found in secondary deposition, and at present is the only dating element for this chronological phase, the coins from the site cover a chronological range previously unknown in Sardinian excavations. The sequence is as follows: James I of Aragon (1213-1276) (probably residual); Alphonse V of Aragon (1416-1458); John II of Aragon (1458-1479); Ferdinand II of Aragon (1479-1516); Emperor Charles V (1520-1556); Philip II of Spain (1556-1598); Philip III of Spain (1598-1621). This numismatic series (from Alphonse V to Philip III) and the presence of pottery markers ranging from Italo-Moresque maiolica from the Val d’Arno, early to late 15th century, to majolica from Montelupo, circa 1480 to the beginning of the 1600s, to Spanish maiolica in blue and luster or only luster dating to the 15th to 17th century, to Ligurian productions (majolica with berettino enamel, monochrome graffito wares) and majolica from Sassari (late 16th-beginning of the 17th century), provide an archaeological chronology for the abandoned village which can now be compared with that given by the written sources. The excavation showed that a substantial part of the anomalies picked up by the geophysical surveys and interpreted as structures are prehistoric and, at least in one case, datable to the Final Bronze Age-Early Iron Age. Evidence of even earlier structures, attributable to at least the Recent Bronze Age, was also recorded. Evidence of a cult area was also found in the nuragic settlement, constituted by a fragment of votive sword and a bronze anchor-shaped pendant, small pyriform jugs and other elements. These could however relate to the nuragic sanctuary situated on the summit of the overlooking Monte Pelao.

The second excavation campaign provided useful evidence for an evaluation of the archaeological interest of the areas today identified by the toponyms San Vincenzo Ferrer and Bidda Noa, where the research was concentrated with the aim of gaining a better picture of the site’s chronology, stratigraphy, and topography.The excavations provided new evidence relating to the chronology of the abandoned medieval and post medieval village of Villanova Montesanto (15th – 18th century). Various interventions in area 200 produced an articulated sequence of dumped stones and tiles, paleo-surfaces and sediments rich in finds relating to village life, dating to between the 15th and 18th centuries. Area 200 is situated on the edge of the village, the presence of rubbish dumps suggesting that trench 3 and sectors 3 and 4 are close to the actual residential area. In area 300, the excavation of a trench in the drainage channel identified in the lowest part of the site was completed. At the bottom was a loose foundation of stones perhaps relating to the channel’s construction. A fragment of Savona polychrome graffito pottery, dating to the second half of the 15th century, was found among the stones. The 2012 campaign also provided important topographic and stratigraphic data regarding the site’s nuragic phase. Overall, the evidence from this season suggests that the nuragic settlement occupied an extensive area, calculated to cover several thousands of square metres. It was obliterated by colluvial material, which covered the razed structures that were probably heavily robbed. The clearest evidence was uncovered in the two sectors investigated in area 100. In sector 1, part of a structure, probably a hut was identified. The threshold was exposed, in front of which an extensive area had been created using stones for drainage and sediments containing a substantial amount of materials dating to the early Iron Age. In sector 2, an interesting proto-historic structure emerged, characterised by a “seduta”, obliterated by a thick layer of clay hillwash. Three phases were attributed to the Nuragic phase, dated by interesting diagnostic materials. A trench about 15 m long was opened in area 300. Traces of collapsed terraced structures were identified, suggesting the site was terraced during the nuragic period. In sector 3, the summit of area 300, traces of containing structures towards the valley and an accumulation of ash, containing faunal remains and pottery, were exposed. These structures confirmed the considerable size of the buried nuragic settlement and the transformations its construction must have made to the landscape.