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Origin and history

The Menhir de la Garde, also known as the Oil Stone, is a megalithic monument located in Cholet, Maine-et-Loire department. This menhir, dated Neolithic, is 3 meters tall and has a prismatic shape, with a maximum width of 1.70 meters on its southeast face. Composed of local grey granite with black mica and large orthosis crystals, it is a typical example of the megalithic constructions of the region.

According to ancient sources, a cubic block about 1 metre high, slightly excavated on its upper surface, was once about 1 metre east of the menhir. The latter owes its nickname of Peter to oil to ancient practices of anointing stone, or by derision towards another nearby menhir, the Vinegar Stone, formerly located 300 meters northeast before its displacement.

The menhir was listed as historic monuments by an order of 6 January 1976, thus recognizing its heritage importance. It is located in the area of La Garde Sud in Cholet, and its location is listed in the Merimée base under Insee code 49099. This monument illustrates the megalithic traditions of Anjou and offers a material testimony to the beliefs and practices of the Neolithic societies of the region.

Available sources, including Michel Gruet's work in Mégalithes en Anjou (2005), as well as Wikipedia and Monumentum's references, confirm his status as a protected site and his archaeological interest. The menhir remains accessible to the public, although its exact location is classified with average accuracy (level 6/10).

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