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Origin and history

The Dolmen de La Pierre Folle, located in Thiré in Vendée, is a megalithic building emblematic of the Neolithic. Ranked a historic monument in 1968, it was searched between 1968 and 1971 by Pierre Chaigneau and Roger Joussaume. This dolmen is distinguished by its rectangular funerary chamber of 7 m by 5 m, bounded by seven orthostates, some of which reach impressive dimensions, such as the bedside slab of 5.60 m long and 12 tons. The materials, gneiss, come from a site 6.5 km away, highlighting the colossal effort of transport.

The architecture of the dolmen reveals a remarkable complexity for the period. The room, probably originally paved, opens to the southeast and has traces of an antechamber and a trilithic porch, typical of the angeline dolmens. A pole hole near the entrance suggests a complementary wooden layout. The excavations revealed bone remains of 40 individuals, dating from the Neolithic to Bronze Age, as well as rich furniture: lithic tools, campaniform ceramics, gold, amber and variscite trimmings, and copper objects.

The site illustrates a long-term use, with burials and funeral deposits spanning several millennia. The objects discovered, such as sharp arrows, pearls and vases, bear witness to various cultural and ritual practices. The absence of traces of the original tumulus and the partial flow of certain slabs by carriages at an indefinite time add a mysterious dimension to this monument. The geological and archaeological studies published in 1976 in Gallia prehistory confirm its importance for understanding the Neolithic societies of the region.

The location of the dolmen, at an altitude of 45 m on a hillside near the Smagne River, reinforces its monumental character. The orthostats, in gneiss, contrast with the local limestone substrate, revealing deliberate choices of materials and advanced technical mastery. The site, owned by the commune of Thiré, remains a major testimony of the megalithic architecture of Angelvin and prehistoric funeral practices in the Pays de la Loire.

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