Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The Aslonnes cromlech, mentioned in the historical sources, would be a megalithic ensemble now extinct. According to ancient authors, only one remains: the menhir de Vaintray (or menhir de la Jument Guignard), still present on the commune. This menhir, a 1,60 m high limestone slab, was classified as a Historic Monument in 1889, attesting to its heritage importance.

The first references to menhir date back to the 19th century, when archaeological inventories began to identify megalithic sites. Although cromlech itself is no longer visible, its supposed association with menhir raises questions among researchers. Some doubt this hypothesis, for lack of tangible archaeological evidence.

Located in the department of Vienna, New Aquitaine, the site is part of a landscape rich in megaliths. The region, marked by an ancient human occupation, has many similar monuments, witness to the funeral and ritual practices of Neolithic. The menhir of Vaintray, with its modest dimensions (1.20 m wide, variable thickness), illustrates the diversity of local megalithic constructions.

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