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Origin and history

The statue-menhir of Tavera is a megalithic work discovered in 1961 in the valley of the Gravona, near the Pass of Tagliafarro, on the town of Tavera in South Corsica. Found half buried and facing the ground, she was straightened near her original location. This granite monolith, carved in round-bosse, is 2.42 m high and is distinguished by its exceptional conservation status. Its anthropomorphic features — hollow eyes, raised nose-sourcils, engraved mouth and prominent ears — make it one of the most harmonious statue-menhirs of Corsica, according to archaeologist Roger Grosjean. A trace of necklace underlined by an arc of circle and a possible representation of beard or hair complete its decoration.

Classified as historical monuments by order of 21 December 2011, the statue delivered archaeological furniture during excavations conducted by Roger Grosjean. The latter exhumed fragments of flint and quartz blades, a point of arrow, dobsidian shrapnel, a bronze fragment and coarse ceramic teasses, reflecting an active human occupation. About 50 m south, three slabs embedded in a wall could belong to an old dolmen, suggesting a larger funeral or ritual site. The statue, carved in a local granite identified at 5 km, reflects the techniques and symbols of prehistoric Corsican communities.

The statue-menhir of Tavera is part of the Corsican group of statues-menhirs, characterized by stylized representations and attributes such as engraved weapons or ornaments. His back, marked by a hollow spine and embossed shoulder blades, reinforces his realism. The associated discoveries (lithic and metallic furniture) place the site in a context of transition between Neolithic and Bronze Age, a period when island societies develop complex funeral and artistic practices. This monument thus illustrates the cultural and technical evolution of the first sedentary communities of Corsica.

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