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Origin and history

The Dolmen de la Pierre Levée, also known as Peyrelevade, is a megalithic monument located in Beauregard-et-Bassac, Dordogne, New Aquitaine. Data from Neolithic, it belongs to the category of simple dolmens, characterised by a structure composed of a cover table based on orthostats (vertical pillars). This site illustrates the collective funeral practices of this time, with traces of burials and ritual objects.

The dolmen consists of a sandstone table and three orthostats, one of which was moved to a nearby slope, probably during agricultural development. Although the original tumulus has partially disappeared, remains remain visible to the southwest of the monument. A fragment of the table, fallen to the ground, can be confused with an additional pillar. Excavations, the exact date of which is unknown, have revealed flint tools and human bones, long preserved at the village hall.

Ranked as historical monuments by order of 1 March 1940, the dolmen is now the property of the Lansade family. Its state of conservation reflects both its seniority and the disturbances experienced over the centuries, particularly related to surrounding agricultural activities. The site offers a precious testimony of megalithic constructions in Périgord, a region rich in prehistoric remains.

The location of the dolmen near the Baneuil site is approximate, with an accuracy assessed as poor (level 5/10). This monument is part of a wider set of megalithic sites in the Dordogne, reflecting the importance of this region for the study of Neolithic in France. Available sources, including Wikipedia and Monumentum, highlight its archaeological and heritage interest.

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