The archaeological complex of Nuraghe Mannu is situated on a basalt terrace (circa 200 m a.s.l.) close to the coast of Cala Gonone, in the marine locality of Dorgali (Nuoro). The site comprises a simple _tholos _type nuraghe and the structures of a nuragic village whose characteristics are still not clear. The terracing also dated to the nuragic period. This was created to level the irregular surfaces on which the residential structures and the megalithic walls east of the nuraghe, on the steep slope leading down to the sea, were built. Furthermore, recent archaeological investigations have revealed numerous buildings attributable to a Roman settlement, with an extension of circa 2 hectares, partially built over the nuragic village.

The site, investigated for the first time in 1927 by A. Taramelli, has been the object of archaeological investigations under the direction of the Archaeological Superintendency for the provinces of Sassari and Nuoro in collaboration with the municipality of Dorgali (1994-2000, 2002-2003).

The latest excavations, between 2005 and 2006, investigated the Roman settlement. These revealed two rectangular buildings and a quadrangular room. Other adjacent structures, awaiting the continuation of excavations, are difficult to interpret. The walls were dry- stone built of basalt blocks, partly reused from the demolished nuragic walls. The structures were roofed with tiles and imbrices. These buildings were similar to those uncovered during previous excavations, and seemed to belong to the same context. On the basis of the materials found, fine table ware and coarse pottery, amphorae, coins etc, these structures, interpreted as private dwellings, shops and warehouses, may be attributed to a civilian settlement, one of the many Roman “towns” documented throughout the Barbagia that were occupied between the late Imperial and early medieval period (3rd/4th-6th/7th centuries).
The archaeological evidence and the archeo-zoological data indicated that the subsistence regime practised by the local community was mixed, that is, characterised by an economy of exchange on an agro-pastoral basis, integrated with hunting and fishing. The dynamism of this economic system was linked to commercial traffic and the coastal trading routes along the eastern Sardinian coast from the Republican to early medieval period. The archaeological evidence suggests the existence of a small port on the coast between Cala Fuili and the modern town of Cala Gonone. From here goods could be unloaded from passing ships and then reach the village of Nuraghe Mannu over land and from there, probably the other settlements in the Dorgali area, evidence of which is represented by scatters of material and sites with the remains of walls. It is possible to suggest the existence of a system of exchange which presumably consented the export of products produced by the local economy. The investigation of the site in question, occupied from the second half of the 2nd century B.C., is thus of great interest for the study of the Romanisation of the territory of Dorgali and of the Barbagia in general.