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| Giara di Gesturi | |
|---|---|
| Name | Giara di Gesturi |
| Other name | Plateaus of Sardinia |
| Elevation m | 550 |
| Location | Sardinia, Italy |
Giara di Gesturi is a basaltic plateau on the island of Sardinia noted for its raised rim, shallow dolines, and endemic biodiversity. Located in central Sardinia, near Gesturi and within the province of Oristano, it forms a distinctive landscape between the plains of the Campidano and the basaltic massif of Torpè and the volcanic complexes associated with the Sardinian volcanic province. The plateau is widely associated with archaeological sites, pastoral traditions, and conservation efforts linked to regional and national bodies.
The plateau sits in central-southern Sardinia between the municipalities of Gesturi (comune), Tuili (comune), Setzu (comune), and Isili (comune), forming part of the basaltic terrains of the Sardinia interior and bordered by the plain of Campidano (plain), the Giara di Serri lands and the Sulcis-Iglesiente metalliferous districts. Its flat top and steep scarp derive from Miocene to Pliocene volcanic activity related to the Sardinian-Corsican block uplift and the regional tectonics that include the Tyrrhenian Sea opening and the Apennine orogeny. The plateau contains numerous shallow depressions called "paùli" analogous to doline features found in karstic regions, but here developed on trachyte and basaltic lithologies influenced by lateritic weathering and Quaternary climatic fluctuations recorded in nearby stratigraphic sections examined by teams from University of Cagliari and Sapienza University of Rome.
The plateau supports a mosaic of Mediterranean maquis and grassland hosting endemic and relict taxa studied by botanists from University of Sassari and University of Florence. Notable plant species include Holm oak stands near escarpments and steppe assemblages with Phlomis fruticosa and Helianthemum nummularium analogues documented in Sardinian floras. Several endemic taxa described by researchers associated with the Italian Botanical Society occur in the area and in adjacent calcareous outcrops catalogued in regional herbaria. Faunal records include the emblematic small horse population historically linked to island studies by the Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia and wildlife surveys coordinated with WWF Italy and the European Union Natura 2000 monitoring programmes, as well as bird records referenced in atlases compiled by the Italian Ornithological Society. Reptiles and amphibians typical of Sardinian plateaus, recorded by field teams from Museo di Storia Naturale di Milano and CNR units, occupy paùli and wet hollows.
Human presence on the plateau is attested from prehistoric to medieval times through nuraghi, domus de janas, and Roman-period installations investigated by archaeologists from Superintendence for Archaeological Heritage of Sardinia and universities such as University of Cagliari and University of Sassari. The site contains nuragic towers linked to the wider Nuragic civilization network across Sardinia, alongside megalithic alignments comparable to those recorded at Su Nuraxi di Barumini and burial contexts akin to finds curated by the Museo Archeologico Nazionale di Cagliari. Excavations and surveys by teams associated with the Soprintendenza Archeologia, Belle Arti e Paesaggio per le province di Sassari e Nuoro have documented ceramic assemblages, bronzes, and pastoral infrastructures that connect the plateau to trade routes crossing the interior toward Oristano (city) and the Phoenician-Punic contacts evidenced at coastal sites such as Tharros.
Traditional pastoralism on the plateau has been central to Sardinian transhumant systems historically described in ethnographic studies by scholars at University of Cagliari and the Institute of Anthropology, Italy. Local shepherding practices, seasonal movements toward lowland pastures of Campidano and upland grazing documented in archival collections of the Archivio di Stato di Cagliari, and the use of stone walls and sheepfolds reflect long-standing agro-pastoral organization similar to patterns recorded in other Mediterranean islands studied by the Mediterranean Agronomic Institute of Zaragoza. Traditional uses include haymaking in paùli, management of water points, and the cultural role of equids and ovicaprids in festivals recorded by regional cultural institutes and the Istituto Superiore Regionale Etnografico (ISRE).
Conservation measures for the plateau involve regional directives administered by the Region of Sardinia in coordination with national bodies such as the Italian Ministry of Cultural Heritage and Activities and environmental agencies including ISPRA and ARPA Sardegna. Portions of the plateau are managed under Natura 2000 frameworks with sites designated as Special Area of Conservation (SAC) and Special Protection Area (SPA) linked to the European Union habitats and birds directives. Conservation actions have been implemented with support from nongovernmental organizations like WWF Italy and academic partners from University of Cagliari to preserve endemic flora, the wild equid population, and archaeological assets, while balancing grazing rights regulated through municipal ordinances of Gesturi (comune) and neighboring communes.
The plateau attracts visitors for hiking, birdwatching, and archaeological tourism promoted by regional tourism boards such as Sardegna Turismo and local municipalities including Gesturi (comune), with trails linking viewpoints, nuragic sites, and paùli observed in guidebooks published by Istituto Geografico De Agostini and excursion reports by associations like the Italian Alpine Club and regional trekking groups. Visitor management strategies integrate cultural itineraries connected to Su Nuraxi di Barumini and gastronomic routes featuring Sardinian products referenced by the Slow Food network, aiming to reconcile recreational use with protection measures under Natura 2000 and the directives of the Italian Ministry of Environment.
Category:Landforms of Sardinia Category:Protected areas of Italy