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Heritage classified

Origin and history

The Davaux Polishoir, located in La Selle-sur-le-Bied in the Loiret, is an exceptional vestige of the Neolithic period. It is one of the very rare fixed polishers on rocky outcrops still visible in this region. These structures, which were excavated naturally or by man in the rock, were used to sharpen and polish stone tools, such as axes or herminettes, which were essential to agricultural and artisanal communities of the time. Its state of conservation and its scarcity bear witness to the local prehistoric techniques.

Ranked as a Historical Monument by order of 18 June 1987, the Davaux polisher is protected with a plot of land of 2 meters around (cadastal park B 118). This official recognition underscores its archaeological and heritage importance. The approximate location near Rue de la Buissonnière and the available data (in particular via the Merimée database) indicate a geographical accuracy considered "passable" (note 5/10). The site remains an object of study to understand neolithic practices in the Centre-Val de Loire, although the practical information about its visit or accessibility is not detailed in the sources.

Neolithic, a period in which this polisher is associated, marks a major transition in human history with the adoption of agriculture, sedentarization and the work of polished stone. In Loiret, as elsewhere in France, these polishers were often located near streams or areas of passage, facilitating supply of raw materials and trade. Their collective use reflects a structured social organization where technical know-how was passed on between generations. The Davaux polish shop thus illustrates both a material heritage and an immaterial dimension linked to prehistoric artisanal practices.

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