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Origin and history

The Dolmen de la Jagantière, also known as Palet de Roland, is a megalithic monument located on the south-east foothills of the Black Mountain, 3 km from Villeneuve-Minervois, in the department of Aude. Built at an altitude of 389 metres, it dominates the plains of the Minervois and the Narbonnais. Its covered table is made of dry limestone and is 2.50 m long by 2.30 m wide, with an average thickness of 0.25 m. A central crack, attributed to lightning, marks this stone. The dolmen was classified as historical monuments in 1889, and restoration works have been undertaken since 1972 by local enthusiasts.

The site has undergone several clandestine searches, the results of which remain unknown. In 1892, Germain Sicard discovered a barbed and pedunculated flint arrow, attesting to his ancient occupation. About 200 meters to the west is another dolmen, that of Roquetrucade. A local legend tells us that the stone was thrown by Roland, the nephew of Charlemagne, as a giant pallet to Narbonne, hence his nickname "Palet de Roland".

The dolmen illustrates the importance of megalithic constructions in southern France during the recent Neolithic and Chalcolithic periods. These monuments often served as collective burials or places of worship, reflecting funeral practices and beliefs of the sedentary agricultural communities of the time. Their high location, as here at 389 meters, also suggests a territorial or symbolic landmark role in the landscape. The Minervois region, rich in prehistoric remains, bears witness to this ancient occupation and its cultural heritage.

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