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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

La Grande Pierre de Jouy is a menhir located in the commune of Jouy-le-Moutier, in the department of Val-d'Oise. This soft sandstone block, measuring 3 meters in length, was initially tilted before collapsing completely on the ground. Despite its position on a hillside at an altitude of 20 metres, it was not visible from the bottom of the Oise Valley, even when it was erected.

The menhir was first reported in 1874 by Amédée de Caix de Saint-Aymour, when it was already heavily tilted. It was classified as a historic monument by decree on 13 July 1976, recognizing its heritage importance. Its dimensions vary: 2.55 meters wide at the base, 0.90 meters at the top, and a thickness between 0.50 and 0.20 meters.

Although its exact origin and precise function remain unknown, this megalith is part of the landscape of prehistoric sites in the Paris region. It bears witness to the cultural and ritual practices of neolithic societies, which erected such monuments. Today, it rests in a lying state, but its ranking ensures its preservation for future generations.

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