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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The Dolmen du Buisson, also known as the Dolmen de Chamblon or the Pièira Giganta, is a megalithic building located in the commune of Mas-Saint-Chely, in Lozère (Occitanie region). This archaeological site is distinguished by its structure consisting of a rectangular chamber bounded by two imposing local limestone orthostats, measuring nearly 4 meters long. The cover table, now broken into three fragments, was initially 3.10 metres long. A tumulus of 8 to 9 metres in diameter, consisting of earth and stones, surrounds the main structure. The dolmen adopts a plan in "q" thanks to an access corridor of 3 meters long, filled with large blocks and bordered with dry stone walls.

Ranked as historical monuments by order of 14 January 1977, the dolmen was the subject of excavations and restorations carried out by Gilbert Fages in the early 1970s. This work revealed a second tumulus located 17 metres south, containing two slabs and archaeological remains, including a jayet pearl and a cranial cap fragment. Although the master bedroom was reused as a shelter by shepherds, limiting discoveries, the excavation of the tumulus collected a fragment of sandstone millstone and a flint blade, evidence of an ancient occupation.

The Dolmen du Buisson illustrates neolithic funeral practices in southern France, with an architecture characteristic of the collective burials of this period. Its partial conservation status and associated remains provide insight into the construction techniques and rituals of local prehistoric communities. The subsequent reuse of the site as a pastoral shelter also highlights its sustainable integration into the landscape and local uses, well beyond its original function.

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