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Origin and history

The Dolmen de la Galaberte, also known as the Dolmen de Rascassols, is a megalithic monument located in Saint-Hippolyte-du-Fort, Gard department, Occitanie region. This corridor dolmen, dated from the recent Neolithic and Bronze Age, is distinguished by its structure consisting of a square chamber of about 2 meters side and a corridor of 12 meters length. The calcareous floor slab is 2.90 m long for 2.30 m wide and 0.60 m thick.

The site was first searched in 1906 by E. Gimon and then in 1966 by Jacques Coularou, who explored the corridor. These excavations revealed collective burials, with the remains of 250 to 300 individuals, as well as rich archaeological furniture, including flint, bone, and ceramics attributed to the Ferrières group. Some artifacts, such as a flint knife and engraved pebbles, are preserved at the Natural History Museum in Nîmes.

The dolmen was restored and listed as historical monuments by order of 3 July 1990. Its cairn, initially deformed by stones from neighbouring agricultural works, bears witness to the modifications suffered by the site over the centuries. Today, it is owned by the commune of Saint-Hippolyte-du-Fort and remains a remarkable example of the megalithic architecture of the region.

Archaeological discoveries, including bone objects (poisoning, spatula, whistle) and flint knives from Salinelles workshops, offer valuable insight into the funeral and artisanal practices of the Neolithic communities and the Bronze Age. Ceramics, although not abundant, have characteristic decorations that reinforce its attribution to the cultural group of Ferrières.

The dolmen of the Galaberte is a major testimony of the ancient human occupation in the Gard. His study, combined with that of other megalithic sites in the region, such as those around the Pic Saint-Loup, provides a better understanding of the social and cultural dynamics of prehistoric populations in southern France.

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