In addition to preserving beautiful Nuraghi and suggestive necropolis, the territory of Arzachena is littered with characteristic Gallura monuments: the tafoni.

The word, of Corsican origin, indicates the natural cavities of granite produced by natural erosion; in the local dialect they are indicated with the name of conchi. Moisture penetrating into granite rock causes its decomposition with the consequent creation of cavities and imaginative forms of natural sculptures.

Widespread throughout Corsica and Sardinia, the tafoni have been used up to modern times as rock shelters or burial sites (fig. 1).

Fig. 1 - Tafoni in Pilastru, Arzachena (from http://www.anemos-arzachena.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/AngoliDiStoria1.jpg).

During the Prehistoric Age, funerary use was reserved for the most inhospitable and small ravines.

Of course, there are examples of tafoni used as dwellings. Sometimes, one can see the remains of small villages where the houses consist of large shelters under the rock combined with a dry wall along the contour of the rocky space (fig. 2).

In this way, it was possible to obtain multiple rooms. Not only: in some cases the space also extends outside, by means of arranging stones in the area in front of the entrance in order to obtain a kind of embankment.

Fig. 2 - Monte Incappidattu of Arzachena, rock called “il Fungo” (the mushroom) (from http://www.arzachenacostasmeralda.it/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/fungo.jpg).

At a first glance, according to the groupings of the caves-houses, they appear to be actual fortified settlements, defended by mighty walls which block any possible passage. At the top of these granite formation there are even the remains of small towers.

At the current stage of archaeological research, it seems that the largest number of burials in tafoni is around Arzachena (Nicola Carta, Monte Mazzolu, Le Casacce, Punta Candela, Monte di Oglio, Li Conchi, Malchittu, La Macciunitta, Li Muri, Donnicaglia, Lu Vignali).

The prime example is the village of Monte Mazzolu. This is a granite hill rich in tafoni which was chosen by Nuraghic people as a place of fortification because of its conformation as a natural stronghold. Not only that, but the whole mountain is dotted with numerous prehistoric sites (fig. 3).

Fig. 3 - MMonte Mazzolu (from http://www.arzachenacostasmeralda.it/wp-content/gallery/escursione-a-monti-mazzolu/3.jpg).

These small communities could count on particularly suitable environmental resources for developing an agro-pastoral economy. The western slopes of the mountain, less steep, were protected by an imposing wall.