Construction period Néolithique (≈ 4100 av. J.-C.)
Dating of the surrounding flint.
1874
Megalith reporting
Megalith reporting 1874 (≈ 1874)
First mention by E. Ferret.
1889
Double incorrect classification
Double incorrect classification 1889 (≈ 1889)
Ranked as dolmen and then menhir.
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui Aujourd'hui (≈ 2025)
Position de référence.
Heritage classified
Clotte Menhir: ranking by list of 1889
Key figures
E. Ferret - Discovery of the site
Report the megalith in 1874.
Origin and history
The Pey Landry, also known as Menhir de Clotte, is a megalith located in the commune of Les Salles-de-Castillon, Gironde. Although classified as dolmen in 1889, it is actually a menhir, as confirmed by a second classification in the same year. This limestone monolith is 2 metres high and has an east-west orientation. Its name could derive from the word Puy (height) or the name Pierre, reflecting a local toponymic tradition.
The site was first reported in 1874 by E. Ferret. Cut flints dating from Neolithic, discovered in the vicinity, attest to an ancient human occupation. The menhir, classified as a Historical Monument, illustrates the importance of megaliths in the prehistoric landscape of the region. Its current location, near the vineyards, suggests a continuity of land use for millennia.
The initial confusion between dolmen and menhir reveals the challenges of 19th century archaeology, where knowledge of megaliths was still under construction. Today, the Pey Landry remains a tangible testimony of neolithic funeral or ritual practices in New Aquitaine, although its exact use remains hypothetical.
