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Key figures

Origin and history

The 6 dolmens of Saint-Chels constitute an exceptional megalithic heritage dated Neolithic, located in the commune of Saint-Chels, in the Lot department (Occitanie region). These funerary monuments, spread over a limited territory, illustrate the ritual and architectural practices of prehistoric societies installed on the causse de Cajarc, a limestone plateau characteristic of Quercy. Four of them have been classified or listed in the Historic Monuments since 1988 and 1989, highlighting their archaeological value and their varying state of conservation, ranging from partially collapsed structures to still imposing buildings, such as the dolmen of Aubin, whose table weighs 6.5 tons.

The commune of Saint-Chels, integrated into the regional nature park of the Causses du Quercy (UNESCO Geoparc Label since 2017), offers a geological and landscaped framework conducive to the preservation of these remains. Dolmens, such as those of the Pezet Mas, the Bout-de-la-Combe, or Pourquayret, have been the subject of excavations revealing artifacts as a neolithic skull, attesting to their funeral use. Their geographical proximity suggests intentional spatial organization, possibly linked to clan territories or prehistoric circulation routes. These monuments are part of a protected natural environment, between the valleys of Célé and Lot, marked by remarkable biodiversity and karst landscapes.

The medieval and modern history of Saint Chels, although less directly related to the dolmens, illuminates the territorial context of their rediscovery. The local seigneury, dependent on Larnagol, was owned by noble families such as the Cessac or the Laporte, while the parish, mentioned in 1225 under the name of S. Haelf, evolved under the influence of the Abbey of Marcilhac. The remains of medieval fortifications, coveted during the Hundred Years War, recall the strategic stakes of this border area between the valleys. In the 18th century, local notables such as the Pezet family, whose member had a chapel built in the church of St.Celsus, marked the history of the commune, now rural and oriented towards the preservation of its natural and archaeological heritage.

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