Luras is the home of the dolmen: of an original 78, four of the remaining intact examples on the island are here. This town of 2500 inhabitants is set 500 metres above sea level on a granite bedrock to the far north-eastern side of Mount Limbara. Despite being well within the Gallura region, locals speak the Logudorese dialect. There are two theories about the town's origins: founded as an Etruscan colony, or by the Jews deported by Emperor Tiberius (19 AD). From the Middle Ages to the 18th century it was known as Villa Lauras, and it reached peak splendour in the mid-19th century, thanks to trade, agriculture and sheep-farming. Today, the economy is based on agriculture and craft trades, in particular cork, granite and the production of vermentino and nebiolo wine.

The area has been inhabited since prehistoric times. The Bronze Age left the remains of six nuraghes, while the four dolmens (or allée couverte) found near the town date from the pre-nuraghic period, 3500-2700 BC, and can be compared to similar Basque, Catalan, French, Corsican and Balearic Island collective burials (and places of worship).