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Heritage classified

Origin and history

The dolmen of Xuberaxain-Harri, located in the town of Mendive in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques, is a megalithic vestige dated from the Protohistory. This funerary monument, typical of late neolithic constructions or bronze age, bears witness to the ritual practices and architectural know-how of local prehistoric societies. Its classification as Historic Monument by decree of 7 January 1959 underlines its heritage importance and its legal protection.

The Protohistory, the pivotal period between Prehistory and Antiquity, sees the development in Aquitaine of communities organized around agriculture, livestock and handicrafts. Dolmens, such as that of Xuberaxain-Harri, served as collective burials and marked the landscape, reflecting a complex social organization and a spirituality rooted in the territory. Their establishment in areas such as the Pyrénées-Atlantiques suggests a network of settlements and cultural exchanges between valleys and plains.

Available data from the Merimée database and Monumentum indicate that the dolmen is located near the Jauregibordako bidea road, with geographical accuracy considered fair (level 5/10). Although its access and conditions of visit are not detailed, its protected status guarantees its conservation for future generations. This monument illustrates the richness of the protohistoric heritage of New Aquitaine, a region where the traces of the first sedentary societies remain visible in the current landscape.

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