Timeline

Heritage classified

Origin and history

The Pechmémie dry stone hut is distinguished by its rectangular shape, atypical for this type of construction. Measuring 13 meters long, it is backed by a support wall of forty-eight meters, delineating a terrace to the north, itself bordered by a wall. A second terrace, also supported by a wall, extends this set. The building is entirely mounted in dry stones, without mortar, and covered with lauze, flat stones typical of the region. Its facade has a large third-point bay, partially moulded later to leave only a rectangular door, topped by a monolithic lintel in corbellation.

Unlike traditional, round or square huts, this structure illustrates a local architectural adaptation. Its registration as a Historic Monument by order of 27 December 1991 underlines its heritage importance. The cabin, located in the village of Sireuil, includes in its protection the associated terraces and retaining walls (cadastal park 539C 835). Although private property, its state of conservation and location (12 Rue du Camp de César) make it a remarkable testimony to the techniques of dry stone construction, characteristic of the rural areas of Dordogne.

Dry stone huts, such as the one in Pechmémie, often served as temporary shelters, storage places or refuges for peasants and shepherds. Their construction, without binding, was based on know-how passed through the generations, using only local resources. In the Eyzies-de-Tayac-Sireuil region, rich in prehistoric sites, these buildings also demonstrate continuous human occupation and adaptation to geological and climatic constraints. Their preservation makes it possible today to study the lifestyles and craft techniques of past rural communities.

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