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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The dolmen de la Joselière, also called dolmen du Pissot, is a megalithic complex located in Pornic, Loire-Atlantique, on the Atlantic coast about 100 meters from the sea. This square-shaped cairn (13-14 m side) is distinguished from other regional sites by its atypical structure, including a 7.50 m corridor serving four funeral chambers. A stone engraved with cupules, reused from the time of its construction, was discovered near the entrance.

The first written mention of the monument dates back to 1868 when W. C. Lukis drew up the plan. It was then described by Pitre de Lisle du Dreneuc in 1882 and cited by Glyn Daniel in 1939 as an example of a transept grave. Back-up excavations in 1984-1985 revealed a variety of funeral furniture (varicite pearls, flint arrow tips, pottery), attesting to an occupation in the fourth millennium BC, with possible reoccupation to the final Neolithic.

Ranked a historic monument in 1978, the dolmen belongs to the commune of Pornic. The excavations showed that its structure had been partially disrupted by modern embankments, but the north-west and north-east parts, near the entrance, remained intact. The site is associated with other local megalithic monuments, such as the dolmen of the Pré d'Air and covered walkway of the Boutinardière, highlighting its importance in the neolithic funeral landscape of the region.

The lateral chambers (South and East) delivered flint tools, quartzite shrapnel and pottery fragments, while the terminal chambers (West and North), partially emptied prior to excavations, contained some residual artifacts. The southeast orientation of the corridor and the perpendicular layout of the rooms reflect a complex funeral architecture, characteristic of the neolithic practices of the region.

The cairn, with a maximum height of 1.50 m, was initially covered with a tumulus whose structure has been altered over the centuries. The 1984-1985 restoration helped stabilize the building and better understand its internal organization, while confirming its link to other contemporary sites such as the Musseau and Dissignac tumulus.

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