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Origin and history

The Beaulieu Stele, also called Menhir de Sainte-Anne, Pierre Longue or Grande Borne, is a protohistoric monument located in Clermont-Ferrand, in the department of Puy-de-Dôme. Originally considered a neolithic menhir, it was classified as historical monuments in 1924 under the name "menhir, Mile". This classification reflected the hypothesis of Roman origin because of its proximity to an ancient way, although this theory was later questioned.

The excavations led by Frédéric Surmely in 2008 made it possible to date the stele of the Tena period (IIth century BC), thus linking it to the steles of the Iron Age known in western France. The absence of neolithic furniture and traces of an older setting pit ruled out the hypothesis of a straightened neolithic menhir. The porphyroid granite block extracted from the Artière gorges at 9 km distance has a regular cylindrical shape, suggesting a typical watering of protohistoric steles.

With a total height of 5.70 metres (2.50 metres visible), the stele weighs about 18 tons. It has an oval depression on its southwest face and a slightly rounded apex. Located 400 metres south-east of the Menhir du Puy de la Poix, it is now located on a vegetated land, close to the crossroads of the departmental roads 772 and 766, in a semi-urban environment.

The interpretation of the stele has evolved over the course of studies: although its funeral use has not been confirmed, its form and context suggest a symbolic or commemorative function unique to iron age societies. Its ranking in 1924 and subsequent research underline its heritage importance, despite the continuing uncertainty about its original vocation.

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