Roger Grosjean, the archaeologist of Filitosa

In 1954, Roger Grosjean (archaeologist and researcher at the CNRS) was named, aged 32, as Culture delegate in Ajaccio. People told him about a place where, apparently, curious, carved stones slept. Meeting arranged, Charles-Antoine Cesari conducted the historian around the site where these strange stones were lying recumbent. Roger Grosjean went, and noticed as well the traces of an ancient building, a sort of fortification. The archaeologist, moved, shook the hand of the landowner and confided in him : "You have made a considerable discovery, Monsieur Cesari."

Grosjean quickly suggested to Charles-Antoine Cesari undertaking an excavation campaign. He accepted and during a trip to Paris gave his consent to Roger Grosjean to undertake the research , on condition that all objects uncovered remained in position.

But the trouble was only just starting. Battle had to be done against the sceptics who didn't believe in this discovery. As proof of this, when the visionary Charles-Antoine Cesari courted a local elected official at the time, : "If, thanks to prehistory, we develop tourism, the whole village will benefit!", he was told sarcastically: "If you think you're going to make me believe in stones!..."

But that was without taking account of the passion of two extraordinary men. Charles-Antoine Cesari and Roger Grosjean forged an unbreakable attachment to Filitosa. The excavations undertaken immediately showed great riches. If the jewel of megalithic island art had been found, (astonishing statue-menhirs), the prehistoric setting, from between the VIth millennium BC and the Roman occupation had also been discovered (the remains of monuments).

Today Filitosa is a leading destination; one of the most frequently visited sites in Corsica, with thousands of visitors every year who come to travel back to a time many thousands of years before our era. The inconspicuous discovery has given way to a classified site, which with time is becoming a magnet for Corsicans and all who love Corsica.

© Filitosa 2007, All rights reserved.