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Heritage classified

Origin and history

The Menhir de la Pierre-au-Coq is a megalithic monument located in Avant-lès-Marcilly, in the Aube department, in the Grand Est region. Dated from Neolithic, it is distinguished by its atypical shape: wider (1.60 m) than high (1.25 m), with a thickness of 0.55 m. It is steeply tilted westward, adding to its remarkable character. Ranked as a historic monument in 1889, it bears witness to the importance of megalithic constructions in this region.

According to a local legend, shared with another menhir homonym in Soligny-les-Étangs, the Pierre-au-Coq would have the peculiarity of turning on itself at dawn, at the singing of the cock. This popular belief illustrates the mystery and mythological narratives often associated with megaliths, objects of fascination for centuries. The menhir, although small, remains an emblematic vestige of prehistory in Champagne.

Administratively, the monument is listed under the code Insee 10020 and depends on the municipality of Avant-lès-Marcilly. Its location, noted as "passible" (level 5/10) in databases, indicates a geographical accuracy to be improved. The ranking of 1889, by list, underscores its early recognition as a heritage to be preserved, in a context where the megaliths were still poorly studied scientifically.

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