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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The dolmen de la Boucharderie, also known as the dolmen de Chardin, is a megalithic monument located at the place called the Boucharderie, in the commune of Roullet-Saint-Estèphe, in the Charente department. This angoumoisin dolmen, built entirely with local limestone slabs, is distinguished by its rectangular chamber bounded by seven orthostats, five of which support a covering table of about a metre thick. Although the tumulus covering it has disappeared, traces remain visible, and coats of neolithic and Gallo-Roman pottery have been collected.

The dolmen may have been searched in 1869 by Octave (or Raoul) de Rochebrune and Daly, according to Gustave Chauvet. It was classified as a historic monument by decree of 4 August 1927, recognizing its heritage importance. This site testifies to the funeral and architectural practices of Neolithic, while offering traces of subsequent occupation, as evidenced by the Gallo-Roman pottery discovered on site.

The Dolmen de la Boucharderie is part of a wider set of megalithic sites in the Charente, illustrating the importance of this region in prehistory. Its classification among historical monuments protects this rare vestige, while allowing its study and enhancement. The research carried out, particularly those cited in Jean-Sébastien Pourtaud's book, highlights his role in understanding local neolithic societies.

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