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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The menhir of the castle of Pierrefitte, located in Auzouer-en-Touraine in the department of Indre-et-Loire, is in fact a dolmen dated Neolithic. This megalithic monument was classified as a historical monument in 1889, although it was mistakenly identified as a menhir. It consists of a sandstone cover table 3 metres long by 2 metres wide, supported by two orthostats, 2.20 metres long and 1.90 metres long, respectively, for about 1 metre high.

The dolmen was searched in 1843 by Count Baillivy, but the archaeological furniture discovered during this exploration was lost. Despite this loss, the site retains major historical and archaeological significance, illustrating funeral practices and construction techniques of the Neolithic era. Its early ranking in 1889 underscores its heritage interest, although its initial identification as menhir remains a curiosity.

Available data indicate that the dolmen is located near Pierrefitte Castle, at the approximate address "3 Pierrefitte Castle, 37110 Auzouer-en-Touraine". The accuracy of its location is considered satisfactory, with a score of 7 out of 10. This monument, although little documented, offers a tangible testimony of prehistoric societies in the Centre-Val de Loire region, where megaliths played a central role in funeral rituals and the structuring of territories.

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