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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The menhir says the Pierre au Bordeu, also called Pierre du Bordeu or Pierre levée de Montmilcent, is an emblematic megalith located in the municipality of Tournai-sur-Dive, in the department of Orne. This block of sandstone, measuring 3.30 meters high, dates from the Neolithic period and illustrates the architectural and cultural practices of the prehistoric societies of the region. Its geographical location and physical characteristics make it a remarkable vestige of Norman megalithic heritage.

Ranked under the title of historical monuments by decree of 27 October 1938, the Pierre au Bordeu enjoys official protection which underlines its archaeological and heritage importance. This classification helped to preserve this monument from potential degradation and to maintain it as a tangible testimony of the first sedentary communities in the region. Historical sources, including the works of Léon Coutil in 1926, mention its inclusion in the inventory of the megalithic monuments of l'Orne, thus strengthening its documentary value.

Like other megalithic sites, this menhir may have had a symbolic or ritual function for local neolithic populations. Although the precise uses of this type of monument remain partially hypothetical, their presence in the landscape suggests a complex social organization and a particular relationship with the territory. The Pierre au Bordeu is thus part of a wider network of prehistoric sites that mark Lower Normandy, providing insight into the cultural and spiritual practices of the time.

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