Timeline

Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The Dolmen de Quincampoix, located in Saint-Avit-les-Guespières (Eure-et-Loir), is a megalithic monument dating from the Neolithic period. Ranked a Historic Monument in 1889, it bears witness to the funeral and architectural practices of prehistoric societies in the Centre-Val de Loire region. This type of structure, consisting of large erect stones, generally served as a collective burial.

The village of Saint-Avit-les-Guespières, rural and crossed by the Loir and the Foussarde, houses this vestige among its two protected monuments. The dolmen, located at Quincampoix, is a rare and preserved example of prehistoric heritage in an area marked by an ancient human occupation, as evidenced by medieval traces and remains of Rabestan Castle.

The classification of the dolmen in 1889 reflects the early interest in preserving megalithic monuments in France. At that time, dolmens were often associated with local legends or secondary agricultural uses, but their archaeological value was gradually recognized. Today, this site offers an overview of neolithic funeral traditions in the Paris basin.

Saint-Avit-les-Guespières, with 342 inhabitants in 2023, preserves this heritage in a predominantly agricultural environment (89.2% arable land or meadows in 2018). The dolmen, although discreetly integrated into the landscape, remains a strong identity marker for the commune, alongside other historical elements such as the church of Saint-Avit (XVI century) or the castle of Rabestan (mentioned in 1130).

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