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Origin and history

The Dolmen de Roche-Cubertelle, also known as Pierre-Couverte, is a megalithic monument located in a valley of the Forez Mountains, near the town of Luriecq (Loire). It consists of four bluish granite slabs: three vertical supports (one of which is 2.5 m long) and a cover table of 2.20 m by 2.50 m. The ensemble, 1.80 m high, evokes a room or covered aisle, characteristic of the collective burials of the Neolithic or Chalcolithic.

This dolmen is one of the few known examples in the region. Mentioned in the 16th century as Roche Cubertelle, it was perceived by the inhabitants as a simple "cabin", without associated legend. In the 19th century, a wall was added to make it a shelter for herd keepers, before being destroyed. Its takeover by the commune in 1916, and its classification as a Historical Monument on September 2, 1916, saved it from destruction.

The protection of the dolmen was motivated by threats of destruction at the beginning of the 20th century, as the landowner wanted to blow it up because of the damage caused to the crops by visitors. After its acquisition by the State, it became a freely accessible site, reflecting the prehistoric occupation of the Forez Mountains. No detailed archaeological excavation is mentioned in the sources, but its architecture suggests a funeral or ritual vocation.

Historical references come mainly from local acts and regional bulletins, such as those of La Diana (1922) or Friends of the Old Saint-Bonnet-le-Château (1983). These documents highlight its geographical isolation and remarkable conservation status, despite minor changes over the centuries. Today, there remains an emblematic vestige of megalithism in the Loire department.

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