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Origin and history

Castellu di Cucuruzzu, discovered in 1959 in Levia (South Corsica), is an emblematic site of the Torrean culture, characteristic of the Corsican Protohistory. Assigned to the Bronze Age, it was occupied until the second Iron Age (end of the third century BC). The site is distinguished by its defensive architecture: a massive 40 m long enclosure, built in granite blocks weighing up to 1 tonne, and a tower (torra) arched in corbellation, unique in Corsica. Its isolation at 700 m above sea level facilitated its exceptional conservation.

The excavations, conducted by Roger Grosjean (1963) and François de Lanfranchi (until the 1990s), revealed a complex organized around a central courtyard, a covered courtyard serving as a round path, and three diverticules (C1 to C3) interpreted as reserves. Archaeological material — ceramics, flint tools, obsidian, and bronze — is preserved at the Alta Rocca Museum in Levi. The site, acquired by the State in 1975 and classified as a historical monument in 1982, now belongs to the Community of Corsica.

The torra, separated from the castellu by rocky chaos, dominates the entire 10 m. Its access, protected by a corridor with side niches, leads to a semi-circular vaulted room, testifying to advanced architectural know-how. Traces of neolithic occupation (lithic tools) precede the construction of the castellu, confirming an ancient use of the site. Nearby, the Castellu di Capula (IXth century), built on protohistoric foundations, houses a statue-menhir decorated with a sword and anatomical motifs, discovered in use in medieval structures.

The restorations (1991, 2016–2017) opened the site to the public while ensuring its conservation. The excavations have also revealed fireplaces on pavement and a cupula engraved in front of the diverticule C2, rare elements illuminating the daily and symbolic practices of the Torrean communities. This site, with its intact torra and sophisticated defensive system, offers a major testimony of the social and military organization of Protohistoric Corsica.

The Torrean culture, marked by these monumental stone constructions, reflects a hierarchical and sedentary society, mastering agriculture, livestock, and Mediterranean trade (obsidian, bronze). The castelli, often perched, served as refuges, political centres, and storage places, illustrating a remarkable adaptation to island relief. The Cucuruzzu site, by its state of conservation and the richness of its remains, is a reference for the study of this civilization.

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