The Folklore of Some Archaeological Sites in Corsica

DESPITE the assertion of Prosper M6rim6e (1840/1971, 662) that 'il n'y a point de gens moins superstitieux que les Corses,' numerous works on Corsican folklore exist to show the contrary. Frederic Ortoli (1883) was the pioneer in this branch of research. Since then numerous collections of folktales have appeared, and in recent years, some in-depth studies of occult practices and beliefs. The evidence of the folklore connected with the archaeological sites however remains scattered. The prehistorian Adrien de Mortillet (1893) records certain traditions associated with megalithic monuments; more recently Gaston d'Ang61is and Don Giorgi (1968) provide what could be called an inventory of folk beliefs attached to particular localities, some of which are archaeological sites. Other popular traditions of this kind are included in the works of Pierre Lamotte, Archiviste en Chef de la Corse (1953), the prehistorian Roger Grosjean (1955, 1956), Sybille von Cles-Reden (1961), Genevieve. Massignon (1963), Dorothy Carrington (1971, 1980), and Franqois de Lanfranchi, Directeur de la Region Sud de l'Institut Corse des Etudes Pr6historiques (1978). Yet others have been reported to us that are here published for the first time.