Dolmen de Barbehère

Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The Dolmen de Barbehère, located in Saint-Germain-d'Esteuil en Gironde, is a megalithic covered driveway erected in the Middle Neolithic but reused until Chalcolithic. Its architecture, characteristic of the aisles of Aquitaine, has a marked originality: an oblong tumulus of 20 m long, a funeral chamber divided by two symmetrical slabs, and a narrow vestibule. The monument, initially identified as a "tumulus" on a map of 1875, was searched in 1876, then studied in the 20th century, revealing traces of multiple burials and a varied funerary furniture (points of arrows, pearls, ceramics).

Excavations carried out in 1904 by Dr. Jeanty and then in 1987-1991 during official campaigns revealed more than 50,000 bone fragments and 2,000 teeth, as well as artifacts attributed to several neolithic cultures (Peu-Richardian, Campaniforme). The monument, inscribed in the Historical Monuments in 1989, is distinguished by the absence of traditional cairn and the possible presence of red-ocre ornamentations, similar to Iberian buildings. Its tumulus, lined with large blocks, housed a covered driveway built directly on the limestone substrate, with local limestone slabs extracted 500 m from the site.

The prolonged re-use of dolmen is attested by the variety of furniture: flint tools (armatures, scrapers), limestone or gold trimmings, and ceramics dating from the Middle Neolithic to the Gallo-Roman era. The bones, in poor condition, suggest about 80 burials, including 19 individuals identified (16 men, 2 women, 1 child). A controversy in the 19th century opposed historians about the existence of two distinct dolmens (Barbehere and Bois Charnier), before excavations confirmed the uniqueness of the site. Today, he remains the only dolmen in the state of the Medoc, witness to the funeral and cultural practices of the prehistoric Aquitaine.

The site, mentioned in 1875 as a tumulus, was subjected to clandestine searches before being protected. The slabs of its covered aisle, decreasing in height, and its trapezoidal chamber make it a hybrid example between dolmen and covered aisle, reflecting various regional influences. The discovery of a polished stone axe at the beginning of the 20th century and the traces of red ochre evoke complex funeral rites, while the pottery tesses (including 333 attributed to the Peu-Richardien) confirm its multicultural occupation.

The building, built in a lowland area at 12 m above sea level, illustrates the adaptation of neolithic communities to their environment. Its tumulus, covered with limestone blocks and sandy clay, was probably polygonal in origin. Modern excavations, although limited by the absence of coals for carbon dating 14, revealed a rich stratigraphy, including protohistoric and Gallo-Roman elements, highlighting the symbolic sustainability of the site well beyond its construction period.

External links