Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The Menhir de la Roche Piquée, also known as Menhir de la Baudounais, is a megalithic vestige emblematic of Neolithic. Located in Livré-sur-Changeon, in the department of Ille-et-Vilaine in Brittany, it is carved in local quartzite. Its shape evokes a parallelepipeda with a bevelled top, with imposing dimensions: 3.85 meters high, 2.15 to 2.50 meters wide, and 1.50 meters thick. This monument bears witness to the technical and symbolic know-how of the Neolithic societies of the region.

Menhir was classified as historic monuments by order of 28 December 1933, thereby recognizing its heritage value. It is now owned by the commune of Livré-sur-Changeon. Although its exact use remains debated, the menhirs of this period were often associated with ritual, funeral or territorial functions, reflecting the social and spiritual organization of the communities of the time.

Available sources, such as L. Collin's (1931) or Jacques Briard's (2004) studies, highlight the importance of the megaliths of Ille-et-Vilaine in the Breton archaeological landscape. These monuments, scattered throughout the region, offer valuable insight into the cultural practices and beliefs of neolithic populations, marked by nascent agriculture and increasing sedentarization.

External links