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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The Dolmen de la Pierre Clouée, also known as Koraïre, is a megalithic monument located in Andonville, Loiret department (Centre-Val de Loire region). It is 132 metres above sea level, west of the Bois de la Pierre-Clouée, south of the village, between departmental roads 22 and 95. Although established in Andonville territory, it has historically been associated with the neighbouring town of Erceville. This dolmen is composed of sandstone orthostats, some of which have traces of use as polisher (rainures) or cupules. Its cover table is now broken into three parts.

The site was classified as a historical monument in 1889, highlighting its archaeological importance. The dolmens of this period (Neolithic and Chalcolithic) generally served as collective burials, reflecting the funeral practices and beliefs of the agro-pastoral communities of the time. In the Beauce region, these monuments reflect an ancient human occupation and a social organization structured around sacred or community places.

The orthostats of the Dolmen de la Pierre Clouee bear significant marks: the grooves of the polisher suggest a partial reuse of the stone for artisanal activities (tool sharpening), while the cupules could have symbolic or ritual meaning. These elements illustrate the multifunctionality of megaliths, which could combine funerary, practical and spiritual roles. The elevation and location on the edge of the woods may indicate a deliberate choice to mark the landscape, visible from the surrounding area.

The approximate location of the dolmen (a cartographic precision considered 'passable') and its early ranking in 1889 make it an example of the protected megalithic heritage in France. Available data (Wikipedia, Monumentum) confirm its status as an iconic building, although details of its precise search or archaeological content remain partially documented.

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