Construction of dolmen Néolithique (≈ 4100 av. J.-C.)
Estimated period of construction of the monument.
vers 1930
Searches by Abbé Michaud
Searches by Abbé Michaud vers 1930 (≈ 1930)
Discovery of perforated shells (collar).
29 mai 1970
Historical monument classification
Historical monument classification 29 mai 1970 (≈ 1970)
Official protection of the dolmen.
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui Aujourd'hui (≈ 2025)
Position de référence.
Heritage classified
Dolmen dit La Pierre Levée du Grand Gât (Box E 226): by order of 29 May 1970
Key figures
Abbé Michaud - Amateur archaeologist
Conducted excavations around 1930.
Origin and history
Le dolmen dit La Pierre Levée du Grand Gât, also known as Pierre Chète, is a megalithic monument located in the commune of Moutiers-sous-Argenton, in the Deux-Sèvres department. Dated from the Neolithic, it consists of a room bounded by granite orthostates and covered with a table of cover in siliceous puddingue, today in precarious equilibrium. An additional slab, now extinct, probably completed the structure originally.
Excavations, attributed to Abbé Michaud around 1930, reportedly revealed perforated shells, elements of a necklace, suggesting funeral or ritual use. The site has been classified as historic monuments since May 29, 1970, emphasizing its heritage importance. The Grand Gât toponym could evoke the legend of Gargantua, a mythical figure associated with many megaliths in France.
The materials used, such as Thouars pink granite or Aubier biotite granite, reflect the local resources exploited by Neolithic builders. The structure, although partially degraded, offers a typical example of the dolmens of the region, marked by techniques of size and assembly adapted to the materials available. Folklore and archaeological discoveries make it both a scientific and a cultural site.
