LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONSABSTRACTCHAPTER 1. INTRODUCTIONThe landscapeThe metal resourcesArchaeological record and archaeological cultureArchaeological culture as cultural modalityInsularityCHAPTER 2. OZIERI, EARLY 4TH MILLENNIUM BCOriental engagementDefining Ozieri: the diagnostic potteryEastern formsOther Ozieri craftsLithicsMetalTextilesOzieri settlementOzieri subsistenceTombs and mortuary practicesMortuary cave: Sa Ucca de su TintirrioluDomus de JanasThe interredInterpreting burial practicesThe Sanctuaries of Monte d'AccoddiMenhir-shrine phaseRed Temple phaseOzieri imageryThe ramThe bullAnthropomorphic imageryComposite imagesDiscussing cult expressionInterpreting OzieriCHAPTER 3. SUB-OZIERI, LATE 4TH MILLENNIUM BCAdaptive insularityDefining Sub-Ozieri: the diagnostic potteryCommon wareFine wareOther Sub-Ozieri craftsTextilesLithicsBone and shellMetalSub-Ozieri settlementSunken-hut villagesCave campsSub-Ozieri subsistenceSu Coddu CanellesTombs and mortuary practicesThe sanctuary of Monte d'AccoddiInterpreting Sub-OzieriCHAPTER 4. FILIGOSA-ABEALZU, 3RD MILLENNIUM BCRevival and re-engagementDefining Filigosa-Abealzu: the diagnostic potteryExotic stylesOther Filigosa-Abealzu craftsMetalLithicsTextilesBone, horn, shellFiligosa-Abealzu imageryAnthropomorphic figuresMulti-limbed creatures"Candelabra"Cup-marksFiligosa-Abealzu settlementOpen villagesFortified sitesFiligosa-Abealzu subsistenceTombs and mortuary practicesDomus de janasDolmens and megalithic cistShrines and sanctuariesCave- or rock-shelter sanctuariesMenhir cenotaphsMegalithic hengesTemple sanctuary: Monte d'AccoddiInterpreting Filigosa-AbealzuRevivalRe-engagementCHAPTER 5. MONTE CLARO, MID-LATE 3RD MILLENNIUM BCIndigenous alterityDefining Monte Claro: the diagnostic potteryProduction methodsDecorative surface treatmentsDecorative patternsThe diagnostic Monte Claro repertoryFiligosa-Abealzu/Monte Claro hybridityOther Monte Claro craftsMetalLithicsTextilesMonte Claro settlementOpen settlementsFortifications: Monte BarantaCamps and settlements of the northeast islandsMonte Claro subsistenceTombs and mortuary practicesShaft tombsOther pithos-sherd burialsFull pithos burial: Scaba 'e ArriuReconstructing burial practicesMonte Claro sanctuariesSa Sedda de BiriaiInterpreting Monte ClaroOrigins and agenciesSocial correlates of Monte ClaroCHAPTER 6. BELL BEAKER, LATE 3RD MILLENNIUM BCExotic incursionsDefining Bell Beaker: the diagnostic potteryForms and motifsChronology and local convergencesOther Bell Beaker craftsMetalLithicsBone and shellBell Beaker habitationsBell Beaker subsistenceThe forensic evidence from Padru JossuTombs and mortuary practicesConformity and contrastInterpreting Bell BeakerModelling the Bell Beaker phenomenonA Sardinian Beaker-incursion modelEnd noteCHAPTER 7. CONCLUDING DISCUSSIONA punctuated insularityBIBLIOGRAPHY.