Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The dolmen de la pointe de l'Herbaudière is a megalithic building located in Noirmoutier-en-l'Île, in the department of Vendée (Pays de la Loire). Dated from Neolithic, it belongs to the rare type of transept dolmens, of which only two other examples remain in Vendée. This monument, now in ruins, is seriously threatened by coastal erosion and is submerged during the great tides.

Ranked as historical monuments by order of 28 October 1895, the dolmen was the subject of archaeological excavations, notably on 26 August 1864. At that time, there were still three or four cover tables based on a dozen orthostats. In 1987, a clearance campaign conducted by the Regional Directorate of Cultural Affairs revealed the remains of the cairn surrounding a side chamber, as well as artifacts such as flints and pottery coats, some decorated with punches and attributed to the bronze age.

Archaeological discoveries suggest human occupation during Neolithic, with traces of funeral or ritual activities. The site illustrates the importance of megalithic constructions in this region, although its present state, weakened by natural elements, limits its in-depth study. The objects discovered, such as decorated coats, bear witness to cultural exchanges or technical evolutions between the Neolithic and the Bronze Age.

Dolmen is mentioned in specialized works, such as Bertrand Poissonnier's Prehistoric Vendée (1997), which places it in a wider regional context, including other megalithic Vendean sites. Despite its state of degradation, it remains a valuable testimony to the architectural and funeral practices of local neolithic societies.

External links