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Origin and history

The Dolmen d'Aillé is a megalithic monument located in the commune of Saint-Georges-lès-Baillargeaux, in the department of Vienna (New Aquitaine). Dated from Neolithic, it consists of a cover table broken in two parts, resting on four sandstone orthostats. The inner chamber, about 4 meters long by 2 meters wide, is bounded by slabs up to 4 meters. A fifth slab could belong to an old entrance porch.

The building is mentioned as early as 1486 and 1506 in historical acts, testifying to its recognized seniority. First scoured in 1819 by Abbé Gibault, he revealed artifacts such as blue glass beads with yellowish inlays during subsequent excavations in 1864. The Touzé de Longuemar drew up a plan in the 19th century. Ranked historic monument by decree of August 10, 1932, it illustrates the importance of megalithic sites in the region.

Archaeological discoveries, such as glass beads, suggest a funeral or ritual use, typical of Neolithic dolmens. These structures often served as collective burials, reflecting the social and religious practices of the sedentary agricultural communities of the time. Vienna, rich in megaliths, thus offers a remarkable prehistoric heritage, linked to the emergence of the first societies organized in Western Europe.

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