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Heritage classified

Origin and history

The dolmen of the Pierre Folle, located in Chenommet on the commune of Aunac-sur-Charente, is a vestige of the Middle Neolithic (c. 4500–3500 BC). This funerary monument consists of a cairn — a pile of stones delimiting a sepulchral chamber — whose original structure has been profoundly altered by agricultural tillage and dense vegetation. Its popular name, "Pierre Folle", comes from a local legend evoking a summital stone which, according to the belief, began to "dance". This folklore reflects the mysterious aura often associated with megaliths, perceived as sacred or magical places by ancient communities.

Ranked among the Historical Monuments since 13 July 2012 (inscription order for the dolmen, parcel ZC 8), the site now belongs to the commune. Its present state, considered "very degraded" by the experts, makes it difficult to reconstruct its original plan. The accumulated rubble and vegetation changed its architecture, limiting archaeological studies. Despite this, the dolmen bears witness to the collective funeral practices of Neolithic, a period marked by the sedentarization and emergence of complex community structures in New Aquitaine.

The location of the monument, reported with "passible" accuracy (note 5/10), remains approximate, although its official address (16460 Chenommet) is referenced in the Mérimée base. No information is available on its accessibility to the public, its tourist purpose or any facilities. Available sources (Monumentum, internal data) highlight its heritage interest, linked to the rarity of dolmens preserved in the Poitou-Charentes region, which is now integrated into New Aquitaine.

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