Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The Dolmen de Chez Moutaud (or Chez Monteau) is a megalithic monument located in the Haute-Vienne department of Saint-Avent. Dated from Neolithic, it consists of a trapezoidal funeral chamber bounded by four large-grain granite orthostats, surmounted by a slightly staggered cover table. The slabs, of unequal sizes, form an internal space up to 3.50 m long. Nearby stands an associated menhir, the whole being classified as historical monuments since 6 February 1940.

During excavations, flint tools (lames, arrow frame) and pottery studs corresponding to two separate vases were discovered in the room, attesting to funeral and ritual use. The site is also linked to popular beliefs: according to a local legend, the Virgin, frightened by the Devil, would have dropped the stones she was carrying there. The dolmen was known for its healing virtues, notably through a ritual consisting of turning around by placing pins between the supports and the table.

The monument, owned by the commune of Saint-Auvert, is permanently accessible. Its large grain granite contrasts with that, finer, locally available, highlighting an intentional selection of materials. The remarkable size of the table (4.70 m for the large base) and the asymmetrical arrangement of the orthostats make it a characteristic example of regional megalithic architecture. The associated beliefs, such as the healing of diseases or livestock, reflect the symbolic importance of these buildings in neolithic societies.

Ranked among the megalithic sites of Haute-Vienne, the Dolmen de Chez Moutaud illustrates the funeral and spiritual practices of Neolithic. The objects discovered, such as black flint blades or arrow frames, offer clues to the tools and rites of the time. The site, studied in the early twentieth century (notably by Martial Imbert in 1910), remains a material testimony of the prehistoric communities of the region.

External links