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Origin and history

The Dolmen de La Borderie is a megalithic monument located in Berneuil, in the Haute-Vienne department, in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region. It was erected about 4701 B.C. (±140 years old), according to radiocarbon dating, and placed in the Chassen period. This dolmen is distinguished by its imposing cover table, measuring 4.30 m long by 4.20 m wide, with a thickness ranging from 0.30 m to 1.10 m, for an estimated weight of 40 tonnes. The granite slabs form a room opening to the southwest, without trace of an identified corridor.

The first excavation of the site was conducted in 1874 by Mr. Bidaud, revealing a flint dagger and two decorated pottery coats, attributed to the Chasseen by Claude Burnez. Another polished-backed dagger and a flat vase were associated with the Artenacian. In 1987, a second search and restoration campaign discovered additional artifacts, such as arrow tips, scrapers, a polished axe and a dagger fragment, confirming the archaeological significance of the site.

Listed as historical monuments on 5 July 1983, the Dolmen de La Borderie is located less than 600 metres northeast of another dolmen, La Lue. The objects discovered during the excavations, including flint tools and pottery, bear witness to the funeral and artisanal practices of local neolithic communities. The site is now owned by a private company and remains a remarkable example of the megalithic architecture of the region.

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