Construction of menhir Néolithique (≈ 4100 av. J.-C.)
Estimated period of erection of the monument.
25 juin 1943
Historical monument classification
Historical monument classification 25 juin 1943 (≈ 1943)
Official protection by ministerial decree.
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui Aujourd'hui (≈ 2025)
Position de référence.
Heritage classified
Menhir de Montifray or Pierre du Pont-Champion : classification by decree of 25 June 1943
Key figures
Information non disponible - No character cited
Sources do not mention any related historical actors.
Origin and history
The Menhir de Montifray, also known as the Pont-Champion stone, is a megalithic monument erected during the Neolithic period. Located in the commune of Beaumont-la-Ronce (formerly Beaumont-Lwestault) in the department of Indre-et-Loire, it reflects the cultural and religious practices of the prehistoric societies of the region. This block of puddingue, of piriform shape, is 2.80 meters high for 1.30 meters wide and 0.80 meters thick, making it a typical example of the menhirs of this period.
The menhir was officially recognized for its heritage importance and classified as historical monuments by an order of 25 June 1943. This protection reflects its role in the study of the megaliths of Touraine and the Centre-Val de Loire. Available sources, such as Gérard Cordier's Inventory of Megaliths of France (1963), confirm its archaeological interest and its precise location near the Neuillé-Pont-Pierre road.
In the Neolithic era, menhirs like Montifray were often associated with ritual, funeral or territorial functions. Their placement in the landscape reflected a complex social organization, marked by nascent agriculture and sedentarization. In the Touraine region, these megalithic monuments were part of a wider network of prehistoric sites, illustrating the cultural and technical exchanges of the period.
Announcements
Please log in to post a review