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Origin and history

The Dolmen de Peyrelevade, located in Limeyrat in the Dordogne department, is a megalithic monument dating from the Neolithic. It was first reported in 1821 by W. de Taillefer, who could not clearly identify it because of its state partially buried under stones. It was not until 1974, after clearing work, that its structure was revealed: a 4 m long and 2 m wide room, covered with a slab of 3.80 m by 2.30 m, supported by two orthostates.

A second slab, smaller (1.80 m by 1.50 m), covers a northwest part of the chamber, interpreted as an access corridor or terminal cell. The 1976 excavations, carried out after previous lootings, delivered only a few human bones and uncharacteristic ceramic fragments. Dolmen could be a local variant of angoumoisins or angelvins, according to the interpretations of Dominique Pauvert and Michel Gruet.

The monument was listed as historical monuments on 27 June 1980. Its atypical structure, with a potentially disconnected entrance portal, makes it a remarkable example of regional megalithic architecture. The studies conducted by Dominique Pauvert and Michel Gruet underline its importance in understanding the funeral and architectural practices of Neolithic in New Aquitaine.

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