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Origin and history

Grimery's polisher, also known as the Seven Swordcuts Polisher, is a megalithic monument located in Buno-Bonnevaux, Essonne department, Île-de-France. Discovered in 1885, this vestige of Neolithic stands in the form of a slab of sandstone of Fontainebleau, measuring 3 meters long by 1.20 meters wide. It is laid on the ground, near a wood bordering a field, overlooking the valley of the Essonne. Its surface consists of eight parallel grooves and three other non-parallel grooves, as well as eight polishing zones, bearing its nickname evoking medieval legends.

The polisher was listed as a historical monument in 1980, recognizing its archaeological importance. A second polisher, initially located 40 metres away, was moved close to the village church. These slabs were probably used to polish stone tools, a common practice in Neolithic, a period marked by the development of agriculture and cut stone tools. Their presence attests to ancient human activity in this region, where sandstone resources were exploited to shape everyday objects.

Polishers, such as Grimery's, are rare and precious remains to understand prehistoric craftsmanship. Their protection and study preserve the memory of the first sedentary communities of Île-de-France. The research, notably that of Alain Bénard in Les megalithes de l'Essonne (2012), highlights their role in the social and economic organization of neolithic groups, where the size and polishing of tools were essential skills.

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