Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The dolmens of Mas Payrot, also called dolmens de los Masos, are two megalithic monuments located in the commune of Saint-Michel-de-Llotes, in the Pyrénées-Orientales. These funeral structures, characteristic of Neolithic, consist of chambers bounded by shale slabs, now partially collapsed or broken. The first dolmen, of accidental polygonal form, has orthostats tilted westward and a lack of cover table. Its tumulus, masked by vegetation, appears circular with an estimated diameter between 8 and 10 meters. A thin slab near the ground may have served as a threshold or closure.

The second dolmen, located about 200 metres west of the first, is a small ruined building whose slabs have been severely eroded. Its room, delimited by three orthostats, retains a floor covering slab. A notable feature is the presence of incised linear engravings on a large south slab, as well as graffiti dated between the 3rd and 2nd century BC. Debris of shale plaques engraved with pentacles, collected in 1966 by Jean Abélanet, attest to reuse or post-construction use.

Both dolmens were registered as historical monuments by order of 26 November 1959. Their precarious conservation status is explained by accidental stone movements, previous violations and natural erosion. The site, although not accessible, offers a valuable testimony to the funeral and artistic practices of the Neolithic communities of the Pyrénées-Orientales. The dense vegetation and a wall of partitioning through the tumulus of the first dolmen complicate their study and development.

The local archaeological context suggests that these dolmens were part of a network of collective burials, typical of Neolithic in southern France. Their geographical proximity and similar architectural features may indicate contemporary or related use by the same human groups. The later engravings and graffiti highlight a prolonged use of the site, well beyond its initial construction period.

External links