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Origin and history

The dolmen du Griffier, also known as dolmen de Coulon or Pierre-Forte des Giraudières, is a megalithic building located in Antoigné, Maine-et-Loire department. This dolmen, dated from Neolithic, is distinguished by its square to portico architecture, although partially collapsed. Its slabs, in white or pink eocene sandstone, still include a right orthostate of the room and a left pillar of the standing portico. The surrounding tumulus has now disappeared, and its state of ruin has been at least since the mid-19th century.

According to historical sources, the dolmen was already in poor condition in 1865, as confirmed by the observations of Millet and Raimbault. In 1876 the building had been in this state for more than fifty years. Other hypotheses, such as those of Bousrez and Charrier, attributed its collapse to unsuccessful excavations carried out in 1893. A second search campaign would have taken place in 1913, without the results being specified.

The dolmen du Griffier was registered as historical monuments by order of 23 January 1984. This official protection underscores its heritage importance, despite its fragmentary state. The materials used, the eocene sandstone, and the portico structure bear witness to the megalithic construction techniques of the Neolithic era in the region. Today, there remains an emblematic vestige of megalithism in Anjou, accessible for archaeological studies and visits.

The available sources, including Michel Gruet's work in Mégalithes en Anjou (2005), as well as the references of the Mérimée base, allow to situate this monument in the wider context of the megalithic sites of Maine-et-Loire. Its history, marked by successive excavations and observations, reflects the continuing interest in these prehistoric remains, although their interpretation is sometimes uncertain.

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