The pair of anthropomorphic stone stelae shown above belong to the remarkable prehistoric sanctuary of Saint-Martin-de-Corléans, located in Aosta (Italy). They were first uncovered in 1969 during construction work, when excavator operators struck a sequence of upright stone slabs unusually shaped like human silhouettes. Subsequent archaeological excavations led by Dr. Guido Bertoglio and the Aosta Archaeological Superintendence revealed an extensive ritual complex dating from approximately 3300–3000 BCE, placing these stelae firmly within the Late Neolithic to Early Copper Age. Radiocarbon dating of burial pits and organic remains found around the sanctuary confirmed the site’s continuous ritual use for more than a millennium.
The stelae were carved from local limestone, a material common in the Aosta Valley and well-suited for detailed surface incisions. Each stone slab stands between 1.2 and 1.5 meters tall, tapering toward the base and widening at the top where a stylized circular head is carefully chiseled. The bodies are marked with engraved arms, hands with elongated fingers, and sometimes breasts or pectoral lines, indicating possible representations of gender or status. Though stylistically simple, the stelae exhibit surprising anatomical precision in the carving of the hands, suggesting specialized artisans capable of working stone with controlled abrasion tools made from harder minerals.
Archaeological analysis shows that the stelae were shaped using stone hammering, pecking, and polishing, followed by fine incisions likely created with flint or chalcedony blades. The triangular body shape—broad at the shoulders and narrowing downward—is characteristic of the anthropomorphic statuary found throughout the western Alps. Some stelae from the same site contain detailed engravings of daggers, belts, necklaces, and sun-symbol motifs, indicating a symbolic language shared across communities of the 4th millennium BCE. The two stelae pictured appear to belong to an early stylistic phase, emphasizing human form over decorative elements. Their positioning in ritual pits suggests deliberate placement rather than reuse or displacement.
Scholars interpret the Saint-Martin-de-Corléans stelae as part of a broader religious tradition involving ancestor veneration, territorial idenтιтy, and ritual marking of sacred landscapes. The careful portrayal of arms and hands—often in a gesture resembling resting or offering—suggests these stones may have represented honored members of the community, legendary ancestors, or spiritual guardians. The absence of facial details is consistent with other Neolithic anthropomorphic monuments, symbolizing humanity in an abstract, archetypal form. Some researchers argue for a connection to early Indo-European solar cults, while others view the stelae as ritual markers used during funerary ceremonies or seasonal rites. Their presence at the entrance of ceremonial pathways supports the idea that they served as protective or commemorative figures overseeing processions.
The official excavation undertaken between 1969 and 1976 was directed by the Aosta Archaeological Service, with participation from Italian universities and international specialists in prehistoric art. Archaeologists documented more than forty anthropomorphic stelae, burial chambers, wooden totems, and ceremonial alignments, making the site one of Europe’s most important prehistoric sanctuaries. Today, the stelae are preserved within the Megalithic Area of Aosta Museum, where climate-controlled environments protect them from erosion. Their study continues to illuminate the social structures, ritual beliefs, and artistic capabilities of Alpine communities over five thousand years ago. These carved stones remain a silent testimony to the spiritual life of ancient peoples who transformed simple limestone slabs into enduring symbols of idenтιтy and memory.
