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Heritage classified

Origin and history

The Dolmen des Cloups, located in Ginouillac in the Lot, is a megalithic monument dated to the Neolithic. This type of structure, characteristic of this period, was generally used as a collective burial or place of worship for local prehistoric communities. Its massive stone architecture reflects the construction techniques and spiritual beliefs of the time.

Ranked as Historic Monument by decree of 5 November 1973, the Dolmen des Cloups is protected for its archaeological and heritage importance. The precise location of the site, although documented in the Merimée database under the Insee 46121 code, remains approximate according to available sources, with cartographic accuracy considered fair (note 5/10).

Neolithic in Occitanie, and particularly in Quercy, was marked by a transition to agriculture, breeding and sedentarization. Dolmens, like the Cloups, played a central role in funeral rituals and the social structuring of communities. Their presence attests to a collective organization capable of mobilizing significant resources for their construction.

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