Head carved in volcanic stone from the early Christian period

Fragment of a sculpture depicting a human head with schematic features, carved from dense volcanic stone, probably basalt. The face is distinguished by hollow eyes, a protruding nose, and a barely outlined mouth, in an archaic and symbolic style. This type of representation is typical of productions from the early Christian period, datable between the 9th and 12th centuries. The refined style, frontality, and volcanic material refer to rural sculptures from central France, particularly Auvergne, where this type of rock was widely used for religious or funerary ornaments. It is likely a detached element of an architectural or votive ensemble.