Timeline

Origin and history

The dolmen de Saint-Hilaire, located in the commune of Saint-Priest-la-Plaine, is a megalithic vestige characteristic of prehistoric funeral buildings. This type of monument, consisting of large erect stones, generally served as a collective burial and reflects the cultural and religious practices of neolithic societies. Although its precise dating is not mentioned in available sources, its presence attests to an ancient occupation of the territory.

Dolmens, widespread in many French regions, were often associated with funeral rites and a structured community organization. In New Aquitaine, a region rich in prehistoric sites, these monuments illustrate the importance of the exchanges and technical know-how of the people of the time. Their building required collective cooperation, stressing the central role of these structures in the memory and identity of local human groups.