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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The Menhir de Saint-Brice, also known as Menhir du Parc, is a megalithic vestige located in the commune of Saint-Brice, Seine-et-Marne. Consisting of a millstone slab measuring 1.50 m high, 2.50 m wide at the base and 0.50 m thick, it dates from Neolithic, a period marked by the emergence of agriculture and monumental structures in Europe. His authenticity was debated after his first mention in 1864 by V. Plessier, reflecting the scientific questions of the time on the origin and function of these erect stones.

Menhir was listed as a historic monument on March 16, 1945, recognizing its heritage value. This type of monument, often associated with ritual or funeral practices, illustrates the social and spiritual organization of neolithic communities in Île-de-France. Menhirs, although rare in this region compared to Brittany or the South-West, bear witness to an ancient human occupation and remarkable technical know-how for extracting and transporting massive stones.

Available sources, including Wikipedia and Monumentum references, highlight its local importance and its integration into the archaeological landscape of Seine-et-Marne. Menhir is now protected and listed in heritage databases, such as Mérimée, ensuring its preservation for future generations. Its approximate location, near Patton Avenue in Saint-Brice, allows visitors to discover this tangible testimony of the region's prehistoric past.

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