Tappa Archaeological Site à Porto-Vecchio

Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

Castellu di Tappa is a major archaeological site of Torrean culture, located west of Porto-Vecchio, in South Corsica. This prehistoric monument, built on a hill at 60 meters above sea level, consists of a double walled dry stone enclosure delimiting a space of 350 m2. Originally, three torres (circular towers) structured the site, but two were destroyed in the 1950s by carrier ships. The remaining torra, abrased, preserves traces of a spiral staircase and interior niches, showing a complex defensive and residential architecture. The 1960-1961 excavations revealed fireplaces and ceramics dated between 2200 and 1900 B.C., confirming an occupation as early as the final Neolithic and a construction during the age of old to medium bronze.

The site was explored by archaeologist Roger Grosjean, whose work has made it possible to date precisely the phases of occupation thanks to the radiocarbon. The charcoals analysed indicate two key periods: around 2218 B.C. (±110 years) for foundations, and 1907 B.C. (±100 years) for the archaeological layer of the hall. These data suggest a re-use of the site prior to the construction of castellu, typical of corse protohistoric societies. Ranked a historic monument in 2021, Tappa illustrates the evolution of construction techniques and lifestyles between the Chalcolithic and the Bronze Age, in an island context marked by the emergence of collective fortified structures.

Tappa Fortification is part of a network of Torrean sites in South Corsica, such as those of Ceccia and Bruschiccia, which dominate the Caniccione Valley. Its circular plan, with orthogonal diverticules and access corridor, reflects an architectural standardization specific to this culture. Dry stone enclosures protected a inhabited space, where homes and household remains were discovered. The abandonment of the site around 1500 BC coincides with social and economic transformations in the Western Mediterranean, marked by the decline of ancient bronze age societies.

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