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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The Dolmen de la Pierre Levée, located in La Roche-l'Abeille in Haute-Vienne, is a megalithic monument emblematic of the Neolithic period. Ranked as historical monuments on 7 May 1945, it is distinguished by its structure consisting of four granite slabs supporting a triangular roof table. The funeral chamber, at least 2.15 metres long and 1.50 metres wide, bears witness to its original use as a collective burial.

According to the sources, the dolmen is oriented southeast/northwest, a characteristic common in monuments of this period, often linked to astronomical or ritual considerations. A local legend says that the stones were carried by three bergers, one of which, lame, could only carry a smaller stone, explaining the inclination of the building. This anecdote illustrates the persistence of popular narratives around megaliths, mixing history and imagination.

The site is referenced in the Merimée and Monumentum bases, with an approximate location noted as "passable" (level 5/10). Although the practical information on visits is limited, its classification in 1945 underlines its heritage importance. Dolmen remains a material testimony of funeral practices and beliefs of neolithic societies in Limousin, now integrated into the New Aquitaine region.

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