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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The covered street of Mauny is a collective burial of Neolithic origin, located in Mauny, Seine-Maritime, Normandy. Unique in the department, it was discovered in 1970 in an almost intact state, at the edge of the Mauny forest, in a valley opening onto the Seine valley. The monument, of rectangular shape (7.50 m long for 1 m wide), consisted of two rows of orthostats, seven of which remain partially today. A pierced slab separated the vestibule from the funeral chamber, revealed during the excavations carried out between 1978 and 1980.

The site is distinguished by the exceptional conservation of its bone remains, with more than 115 individuals buried, including several skulls with traces of trepanation – a rarity in Normandy. The chemical conditions of the soil allowed this preservation, as well as that of 122 pearls of stone, bone, shell or amber, mainly discoid pearls in shell. Although the associated archaeological furniture is poor, the stratigraphic study provided a unique insight into neolithic funeral practices in the region.

Covered walkway was listed as historic monuments on 24 February 1998, recognizing its heritage importance. In spite of partial degradations (failure of supports, impact of the digging of an adjacent path), the site remains a major testimony of Norman megalithism, thanks in particular to its preserved architecture and its intact funeral context since the end of Neolithic.

The excavations also revealed internal developments, such as the separation of vestibule and chamber, as well as indications of the spatial organization of the remains. One of the tripane skulls even retained its bone puck, emphasizing the medical or ritual importance of these practices. Today, the monument could benefit from a restoration to preserve this fragile heritage.

The precise location of the site (park 196, rue des Méandres in Mauny) and its forest setting make it both scientific and landscaped. Its relative isolation until its discovery contributed to its remarkable state of conservation, offering archaeologists a rare window on the Neolithic communities of the Seine Valley.

Finally, the route covered by Mauny is part of a wider network of Norman megalithic sites, although its singularity in the Seine-Maritime makes it a case of privileged study. The artefacts discovered, although modest in quantity, illustrate the artisanal exchanges and know-how of the time, including the use of amber and shells.

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