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Origin and history

The Dolmen d'Eylias is a megalithic monument located in Eymet, Dordogne, in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region. Originally described as an aquitaine-type covered driveway, it was partially dismantled and rebuilt in the 19th century, altering its original structure. Today, it is presented in the form of a simple dolmen, with a 4 metre cover table based on four supports, although historical sources initially mention five orthostats on each side.

The site was searched in 1874 by N. Dombrowski, who discovered calcined human bones, pottery, a black flint knife and a red copper ornament interpreted as a diadem. These artifacts suggest funeral use as early as Neolithic, with a likely re-use at Chalcolithic. The excavations also revealed that the monument was regularly emptied of its bones to amend the fields, indicating an agricultural practice related to its operation.

The dolmen was listed as historic monuments on 22 April 1981, recognizing its heritage importance. The objects discovered, including a limestone ring and a flint knife, were donated to the Périgueux Museum in 1874 by Mr. Hoareau de Source. These elements illustrate the archaeological richness of the site and its role in understanding prehistoric funeral rituals in Aquitaine.

The first written mention of the dolmen dates back to 1851 by Abbé Audierne, followed by a more detailed description by A. de Gourgues in 1865. These historical testimonies, combined with the later excavations, allow the reconstruction of the history of this monument, despite the modifications suffered during its restoration in the nineteenth century.

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