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Heritage classified

Origin and history

The Dolmen de Peyrelevade, located in Vitrac in the Dordogne department (New Aquitaine), is a megalithic monument dating from the Neolithic period. This type of construction, characteristic of this period, generally served as a collective burial and reflects the beliefs and social organization of local prehistoric communities. Dolmens were often erected at strategic locations, marking the landscape and serving as landmarks for the populations of the time.

Ranked a Historical Monument by order of 28 February 1910, Peyrelevade's dolmen is now owned by a private company. Its location, although documented in the Merimée base with a priori satisfactory accuracy, remains approximated according to the available GPS coordinates. This monument illustrates the importance of megalithic heritage in Aquitaine, a region rich in prehistoric remains. The data available are mainly from the Monumentum database and the internal archives, without further details on its specific use or local history.

In the Neolithic era, societies in the region lived mainly in agriculture, livestock and gathering. Dolmens, like Peyrelevade, played a central role in funeral rites and collective memory. Their construction required an extensive community organization, demonstrating a social hierarchy and advanced technical know-how at the time. These monuments were often reused over several generations, strengthening their sacred character and anchoring in the territory.

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