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Origin and history

The Dolmen de la Gastée is a megalithic building located in Cabasse, in the Var department, in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region. This funerary monument, registered with historical monuments since 1988, is distinguished by its architecture typical of the collective burials of the Chalcolithic era. It is located at the top of a small hill, with a tumulus of 16 meters in diameter, composed of piers, and an almost square sepulchral chamber, divided in two parts by a vertical slab. A 1.60 metre access corridor, facing west, completes the structure.

Archaeological excavations, notably those carried out in 1948 by René Gérard and later by Georges Bérard, revealed traces of prolonged use of the site. Among the discoveries are human bones in poor condition (30 kg), teeth (8% of which are children), as well as various funerary furniture: calcite beads, limestone and serpentine, shell and steatite pendants, flint arrow tips, and coarse ceramic teasses. These artifacts date the use of the Chalcolithic dolmen, a transition period between the Neolithic and the Bronze Age.

The dolmen has undergone ancient excavations, dating back at least to Roman times, as well as lootings that partially destroyed the archaeological layer. Only a filling strip, protected by the collapse of the cover table, remained intact, delivering two pearls and an arrow point. The slabs of the monument come from a dolomitic outcrop to the south of the site. After the excavations, a partial restoration was undertaken, including the restoration of the roof table.

The architecture of the dolmen has notable peculiarities, such as a sculpted circle 32 cm in diameter on the northern pillar of the entrance, made by boucharding. This detail, as well as the orthostat structure and the dry stone wall, illustrate the expertise of prehistoric communities in the construction of sustainable funeral monuments. The site, although partially altered by old interventions, remains a valuable testimony of the cultural and religious practices of the Chalcolithic in Provence.

Studies on the Dolmen de la Gastée are based on specialized publications such as Les Sépultures megalithiques du Var (Odile Roudil and Gérard Bérard, 1981) and Les Mégalithes du Var (Hélène Barge and Eric Mahieu, 2005). This work highlights the importance of the site in the regional megalithic landscape, while highlighting the challenges posed by old excavations and partial restorations.

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