Construction of dolmen Néolithique (≈ 4100 av. J.-C.)
Estimated period of its construction.
1839
State of advanced degradation
State of advanced degradation 1839 (≈ 1839)
Broken table, flat bedside slab.
1889
Historical monument classification
Historical monument classification 1889 (≈ 1889)
Official protection by the French State.
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui Aujourd'hui (≈ 2025)
Position de référence.
Heritage classified
Dolmen de la Rouvière : classification by list of 1889
Key figures
Information non disponible - No character mentioned
The source text does not mention any historical actors.
Origin and history
The Dolmen de la Rouvière is a megalithic building located in Pelouse, in the department of Lozère, Occitanie region. Dated from Neolithic, this funerary monument illustrates the architectural and ritual practices of the prehistoric societies of the region. By 1839, the cover table was already broken into three pieces, while the bedside slab had collapsed, revealing an advanced state of degradation since that time.
Ranked as historical monuments in 1889, the Dolmen de la Rouvière is one of the first prehistoric sites protected in France. Today, only the bedside slab, recognizable at its rounded apex, as well as a large orthostat remains. These remains, though fragmentary, offer an overview of the construction techniques and spatial organization of the dolmens of this period.
The location of the dolmen, near the National Road 88 in Pelouse, and its early ranking underline its heritage importance. Despite its state of ruin, there remains a valuable testimony of neolithic cultures in Lozère, where megalithic monuments were often linked to funeral or symbolic practices. Its history also reflects the challenges of preserving archaeological sites in the face of the hazards of time and human activities.
