Estimated construction vers 2500 av. J.-C. (≈ 100 av. J.-C.)
Dolmen erected about 4500 years ago.
1980
Discovery of the dolmen
Discovery of the dolmen 1980 (≈ 1980)
By Othello Badan.
5 septembre 1996
Registration for historical monuments
Registration for historical monuments 5 septembre 1996 (≈ 1996)
Official site protection.
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui Aujourd'hui (≈ 2025)
Position de référence.
Heritage classified
Dolmen (Case CH 30): entry by order of 5 September 1996
Key figures
Othello Badan - Discoverer of the dolmen
Identified the site in 1980.
Origin and history
The Dolmen de la Mérindole is a megalithic building located in Fontvieille, Bouches-du-Rhône. Discovered in 1980 by Othello Badan, it was listed as historical monuments in 1996. This elongated dolmen, similar to that of Saint-Contignarde on the same commune, was dug at the top of a hill and surrounded by carefully squared dry stone walls.
This monument belongs to the megalithic group of Fontvieille, which also includes dolmens, menhirs and four hypogees. These buildings are about 4500 years old, reflecting the human occupation and funeral practices of the Neolithic region. The dolmen room, located in height, reflects a neat architecture for the time.
The dolmen is now protected as a historical monument, although it is located on a private property. Its precise location is estimated with poor accuracy (level 5/10), and it is not clearly stated whether it is accessible to the public. Available sources, such as Wikipedia and Monumentum, confirm its importance in the local megalithic heritage.
