Negova was most probably settled already in the Stone Age and in the Bronze Age. Negova was first mentioned in 12th century as Negoinezelo, most probably after a Slavic man Negoj, who is often mentioned in the records from Middle age. There was the oldest count in the whole region and there is still a pillory to bear witness to this. The history of Negova is closely linked whit the castle. For a short time in the 15th century it was occupied by Hungarians under King Matthias Corvinus (a large built-in hall dating to 1487 proves that). Then it was taken by the Habsburgs and finally in the 16th century by the Trautmannsdorfs counts, who owned it until the end of World War II.
From the 15th century on it was rebuilt many times. In the 16th century a resident part was added along whit another wall and several small towers. In the 17th century the outside noble wing was built and the baroque palest yard. At the entrance to the castle is a stone carved vault, above which is the Trautmannsdorfs coat - of - arms.
The original Church of Virgin Mary was built in 16th century. It was the countess Katarina Trautmannsdorf who had it constructed. The first priest felt that it became too small and has the Church rebuilt.
The secret of the Negova helmets, which were found by Jurij Slaček, when he was cutting trees in the woods at Ženjak in 1811, has never been revealed. In one place he found 26 bronze helmet, most of which have now either been destroyed our lost. Just one is in Slovenia in national museum in Ljubljana. The bronze helmets belong to the end of the Hallstatt – iron period in the time between 450-350 BC. The finding is even more mysterious because on of the helmets bears a votive inscription in the writing of the Venets. It is believed that it is the language spoken 2000 years ago in the area of today’s Slovenia by the carriers of the Slovenian Hallstatt culture.
The castle of Negova always boasted distinguished owners. From 1542 to 1945 it was the feudal estate of the Trautmannsdorfs. It was this family that had a renaissance castle complete whit casemates built in front of the old castle beginning in 1568 and finishing after the Turkish siege in 1605.
At the entrance to the castle,which is surrounded by a slopefromthree sides, is a stone carved vault, above which is the Trautmannsdorfs' coat-of-arms bearing the date 1613. In the past there was a moat around the castle so the only way to enter was by crossing a bridge.
The castle is divided into three parts: the old part, the new part and the front part. The wall connected the front part of the castle – the stables, whit the new part, while the old castle is located in the walls behind the new building. Originally there were towers on all four corners. There is one underground tunnel leading from the old castle, but its location has long been forgotten. When the fish pounds around the castle were abandoned, the well in the castle ran dry. This well had been dug by two prisoners sentenced to death, but set free for their work.
References:Monte d"Accoddi is a Neolithic archaeological site in northern Sardinia, located in the territory of Sassari. The site consists of a massive raised stone platform thought to have been an altar. It was constructed by the Ozieri culture or earlier, with the oldest parts dated to around 4,000–3,650 BC.
The site was discovered in 1954 in a field owned by the Segni family. No chambers or entrances to the mound have been found, leading to the presumption it was an altar, a temple or a step pyramid. It may have also served an observational function, as its square plan is coordinated with the cardinal points of the compass.
The initial Ozieri structure was abandoned or destroyed around 3000 BC, with traces of fire found in the archeological evidence. Around 2800 BC the remains of the original structure were completely covered with a layered mixture of earth and stone, and large blocks of limestone were then applied to establish a second platform, truncated by a step pyramid (36 m × 29 m, about 10 m in height), accessible by means of a second ramp, 42 m long, built over the older one. This second temple resembles contemporary Mesopotamian ziggurats, and is attributed to the Abealzu-Filigosa culture.
Archeological excavations from the chalcolithic Abealzu-Filigosa layers indicate the Monte d"Accoddi was used for animal sacrifice, with the remains of sheep, cattle, and swine recovered in near equal proportions. It is among the earliest known sacrificial sites in Western Europe.
The site appears to have been abandoned again around 1800 BC, at the onset of the Nuragic age.
The monument was partially reconstructed during the 1980s. It is open to the public and accessible by the old route of SS131 highway, near the hamlet of Ottava. It is 14,9 km from Sassari and 45 km from Alghero. There is no public transportation to the site. The opening times vary throughout the year.