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Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The megalithic necropolis of Bosc, located on the border between Masquières and Tournon-d'Agenais en Lot-et-Garonne, is a group of megalithic constructions dated from the Neolithic period. Although often called Bosc Alignments, it is not a menhir alignment, but a set of seven distinct monuments: three funeral alleys, two tumuli, a stony cluster and a now extinct building. These structures, known locally as Toumbos dels Djayans (Tombeaux des Géants), span 300 metres and were mentioned in 1842 by A. Ducourneau, and studied by various local scholars in the 19th century.

The excavations conducted in 1958-1959 by Mr. Humbert, R. Loubradou and M.-C. Cauvin clarified the nature of the monuments. The three funerary aisles, oriented along various axes, consisted of orthostats (vertical galls) and contained flint objects, trimmings and animal remains, revealing complex funeral practices. The two tumuli, partially excavated, had variable dimensions, one measuring 7 metres long. A sixth monument, suggested by M. Humbert, and a seventh, described by Georges Tholin in 1877, complete this collection classified as a Historic Monument in 1952.

The objects discovered, such as flint knives, barbed arrows or a wooden pin, were kept in private collections, including that of Count J. de Bonnal. The notes of Georges Tholin, local archivists, remain a valuable source for understanding the original configuration of the site. Today, the necropolis illustrates the importance of collective burials in the Neolithic region of Aquitaine, although its state of conservation varies, some elements having disappeared since the 19th century.

The stony L-mas, interpreted as the remains of a megalithic monument, and the extinct building, described by Tholin as a 6-metre-long funeral alley, highlight the architectural diversity of the site. Successive studies have highlighted the evolution of funeral practices, from the erection of monuments to their reuse or abandonment, reflecting social and cultural changes in the neolithic communities of the region.

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