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Origin and history

The lantern of the dead of Atur is a medieval monument located in the village of Atur, Dordogne (New Aquitaine). Probably dating from the middle of the 12th century, it stands 500 metres from Notre-Dame-de-l'Assumption Church, on the site of an old cemetery. This type of construction, of which there are about 100 examples in France, remains mysterious as to its exact use. The lanterns of the dead appear between the 12th and 13th centuries, as evidenced by a 1122 text by Peter the Venerable, Abbé de Cluny, evoking a stone monument illuminating cemeteries at night.

The structure is presented as an eviscerated circular column 5 metres high and 1 metre in diameter, topped by a conical lantern and a wrought iron cross (not original). Four openings under the conical part made it possible to illuminate at night thanks to an oil bucket and a wick, accessible by a door at the base. According to local traditions of the 19th century, the lantern was lit after each death. Classified as a historic monument on May 21, 1932, it is now owned by the commune of Atur.

The term "lantern of the dead" only appeared in the 19th century, although these buildings were long earlier. In Périgord, only three lanterns remain (Atur, Cherveix-Cubas and Sarlat). Their exact function remains debated: signs of cemeteries, symbol of light for the deceased, or ritual practice related to death. Historical references, such as those of Émile Vauthier (1853) or Huguette Bonnefond (2020), highlight its local heritage importance.

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