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Origin and history

The Menhir des Chancerons, located near the hamlet of the Chancerons in Vergisson (Saône-et-Loire), is a rocky block extracted at the beginning of the 19th century from the place called Bois-Rosier. Although classified as a menhir in 1958, it is actually the base of an ancient road cross, known at the beginning of the 20th century as the "Cross of Chanseron". The lead seal of the cross remains visible at the top of the stone, which is about 2 meters high.

The monument, owned by the municipality of Vergisson, was erected from a natural outcrop to support a cross, not as a Christianized neolithic menhir. This historical confusion led to its erroneous ranking among megalithic monuments, despite the evidence of its recent origin. The stone is at a crossroads of rural roads, near the Gorge au Loup road.

The Merimée base and local sources, such as the works of Louis Lagrost and Pierre Buvot (Menhirs of Burgundy, 1998), mention this monument, although it is not a real menhir. His interest lies in this misinterpretation, illustrating the challenges of identifying historical remains. The cross he supported disappeared, leaving only the base as a witness to this transformation.

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