Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The two dolmens of Gabaudet, located on the same name estate in Issendolus (Lot, Occitanie), date from Neolithic. They illustrate the prehistoric occupation of this karst zone of the Gramat causse, rich in megalithic remains. Classified Historic Monuments by order of 28 August 1934, these funeral buildings are characteristic of the ritual and architectural practices of the period. Their structure in massive slabs, one of which is 4.1 meters long, reveals a remarkable technical know-how for the time.

Gabaudet's Dolmen No. 1 is a vestibule dolmen with an imposing roof table (4.1 m x 3 m) and a 1.75 m floor slab. Dolmen No. 2, located 200 metres from the first, is slightly smaller but retains similar structural elements. These monuments are part of a wider set of local megalithic sites, including other dolmens such as those of the Pierre Levée or the Combes, attesting to an exceptional density of prehistoric remains in the municipality.

Issendolus, whose territory extends over the Gramat causse, has a landscape marked by limestone formations of Jurassic and karst phenomena. Gabaudet's dolmens, integrated into this geological context, were probably linked to collective funeral practices. Their preservation, despite the centuries, offers a tangible testimony of the first sedentary societies of the region, complementing the knowledge of Neolithic in south-western France.

The Gabaudet site also has a more recent and tragic historical resonance: during the Second World War, the neighbouring hamlet was the scene of a massacre perpetrated by the SS Das Reich division on 8 June 1944. Although this event is not directly related to the dolmens, it recalls that this territory, marked by millennia of history, has also been the framework of contemporary dramas.

Today, the protected and enhanced Gabaudet dolmens are integrated into a wider local heritage, including hiking trails (such as the GR6) and other prehistoric remains. Their classification as Historic Monuments underlines their archaeological importance and their role in understanding the Neolithic societies of Quercy.

External links