“The Mastodons”
Title
The Mastodons – Prehistoric Mammoths
Author: Naturaliter
Year of inauguration: 12 July 2025
Dimensions: ~4 m high, ~6 m long
Location
Hill above the Green Triangle, Legoli Waste Disposal Plant (Peccioli, Pisa)
Access: freely visible to visitors to the Green Triangle
‘The Mastodons’ – Prehistoric Mammoths
Two monumental mammoths, towering prehistoric creatures, re-emerge in the Tuscan landscape. Designed and created by Naturaliter, the Mastodonti di Peccioli (Mastodons of Peccioli) are site-specific installations located on the hill above the Legoli Waste Treatment and Disposal Plant. Inaugurated on 12 July 2025, the sculptures embody the fusion of geological memory, environmental regeneration and public art.
The work
The sculptures depict two species of mastodons that once inhabited the area: the ancient elephant (Palaeoloxodon antiquus) and the southern elephant (Mammuthus meridionalis).
They are imposing in size: over 4 metres tall at the shoulder and up to 6 metres long.
The creation of the sculptures followed a meticulous scientific and artistic process: miniature models, 3D printing technologies, collaboration with palaeontologists and analysis of fossil finds (from the University of Pisa and other studies).
The meaning
- Like the ‘Presenze’ (Presences), the Mastodonti are also part of a broader discourse on regeneration: the Legoli Plant becomes a place of transformation and memory.
- The decision to depict animals that lived between 2.6 million and 70,000 years ago brings a distant past back to life, intertwining territorial identity, natural history and art.
- It is a work that combines scientific value, artistic engagement, and the evocative power of a return to prehistory.
Location
- Location: hill above the Triangolo Verde, in the area of the Legoli waste disposal and treatment plant, Peccioli.
- The sculptures are visible at the entrances to the Green Triangle, in an open setting where visitors can view them freely.
History & Media coverage
The project was promoted and implemented by Naturaliter on the initiative of Belvedere S.p.A.
From the outset, media coverage was strong: articles appeared in QuiNewsValdera and Intoscana, followed by texts, videos and contributions from the company and the local council.
