Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The Dolmen de Lhomme, also known as the dolmen de Maupertuis, is a megalithic building in the municipality of Lhomme, Sarthe. This monument is distinguished by its quadrilateral structure, covering an area of about twenty square meters. Its cover table is based on seven orthostats (standstones), a typical configuration of the dolmens of this region.

The dolmen is located to the northeast of the commune of Lhomme, in the department of Sarthe, in Pays de la Loire. Although its exact period of construction is not specified in the sources, its architectural style and structure attach it to prehistoric megalithic monuments, often associated with Neolithic. These buildings generally served as collective burials or places of worship for local communities.

The building was officially recognized for its heritage importance and listed as historic monuments on February 8, 1984. This legal protection aims to preserve this architectural testimony of ancient times, while allowing its study and valorisation. Dolmen is referenced in the Mérimée base, an essential tool for the census of the French architectural heritage.

Available sources, including Wikipedia and Monumentum, highlight its historical and archaeological interest. A photograph of the monument, made by Carol Barbone under Creative Commons license, illustrates his current state. Dolmen is also mentioned in specialized books, such as Jean-Paul Henri Berthet's Discovering the Megaliths in Sarthe, which devotes a page to this site in his regional study.

The location of the dolmen is specified by GPS coordinates, although their accuracy is assessed as satisfactory a priori (level 7 on a scale of 10). The approximate address, 5267 Le Bignon à Lhomme, allows visitors to orientate, while tools like Google Street View offer a virtual view of the site. No information is provided on its accessibility or conditions of visit.

This monument is part of a wider set of Sarthian megalithic sites, reflecting the ancient human occupation of this region. Dolmens, as funeral or symbolic structures, bear witness to the cultural and religious practices of prehistoric societies. Their preservation allows archaeologists and historians to better understand the lifestyles and beliefs of these disappeared populations.

External links