The “Sasso dell’Olio” (meaning: Stone of the oil)
The “Sasso dell’Olio” is located in the area where the Tortonese hills begin to rise into the Apennines, with the nearest village being Garbagna. The closest paved road leads to località Bastita, from where one must continue on foot. We actually enjoyed a beautiful hike starting from Castellania, passing through the Towers of Sant’Alosio, a site that features some cup marks and appears to be connected to the stone.
The Rock stands directly along a forest trail, atop one of the many hills in the area. Without a guide, it’s quite difficult to find. While many stones emerge naturally from the ground, this one clearly appears man-made. In fact, it has tilted about 30 degrees, likely due to centuries of erosion. The stone is about 1.7 meters tall, though it appears taller due to the sloped terrain.
Once you see it in person, the origin of its name becomes clear: at the top of the stone is a small basin, larger than a cup mark, which was likely used to hold oil or fat for a flame. Another striking feature is the stone’s orientation: despite the dense vegetation, it points toward the peak of Sant’Alosio, where we had passed earlier. That site contains a large cup mark and has become a place of solstice celebrations in recent years.
The two scenic hilltops, Sant’Alosio and the Sasso dell’Olio, are about 6 km apart by trail, and likely even closer as the crow flies.
The area around the Sasso is archaeologically intriguing, with many other stones scattered nearby. To the left of the main stone lies another one, partially buried, that appears quite similar and may have fallen long ago. Behind these two stones is a small clearing with several naturally occurring stones that deserve further examination, at least one appears to bear man-made markings.
Most remarkable is a large boulder, nearly three meters tall, that stands right in the center of the clearing on a small rise. Though it seems naturally placed, it exudes a particular presence or energy, and it contains unusual cavities. Whether these are natural or carved remains unclear, but they certainly caught our attention, and probably that of ancient visitors as well.
Finally, many other stones in the area, though covered with moss and leaves, seem to show signs of carvings or markings, cup marks and other incisions, weathered by centuries of exposure, as suggested by the photographs provided.