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Origin and history

The dolmens of Changefège, located on the eponymous causse in Balsièges (Lozère, Occitanie region), date from Neolithic. This archaeological site includes several megalithic structures, including coved corridor dolmens, characterized by trapezoidal or rectangular chambers covered with massive slabs. The associated tumulus, initially circular (up to 15 m in diameter), were partially altered by stone inputs from neighbouring fields. The material discovered during the 19th century excavations included coarse pottery, flint blades and bone beads, reflecting the funeral practices of the time.

The dolmens were explored in the late 19th century by M. de Vibraye and Emile de More. Local tradition referred to them under evocative names such as Baoumo des Geons ("Groat of the Giants") or Teoulo de la Geonto ("Giant Tile"), reflecting their mythical dimension. Ranked Historic Monuments in 1889, these buildings are distinguished by their complex architecture: some have bent corridors, double rooms, or broken orthostats. Their group arrangement, within 80 m of each other, suggests a collective funeral organization on this limestone plateau overlooking the Lot Valley.

The site consists of several distinct structures. A first dolmen, located 300 m west of the hamlet of Changefège, has a trapezoidal room of 3.9 m long, preceded by a corridor of 1.50 m. A second, 300 m northeast, has a rectangular chamber of 4.85 m, with a massive cover table (3.20 m x 1.90 m). A third dolmen, embedded in a 15 m diameter tumulus, houses a 3.50 m long room. Finally, a double dolmen, partially destroyed, attests to successive constructions. These architectural variations illustrate the evolution of megalithic practices in the region.

The precise GPS coordinates allow to locate these monuments, scattered over a restricted perimeter. Their state of preservation varies: some have kept their cover table (although cracked or moved on the tumulus), while others remain only in the state of remains (isolated orthostats, bedside slabs). The site, although protected, remains vulnerable to alterations related to historical agricultural activities, such as field spearing. These dolmens offer an exceptional testimony of Neolithic societies in the south of France, marked by elaborate funeral rites and an advanced mastery of stone carving.

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