Timeline

Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The menhir dit la Pierre au Jô, also called Pierre-au-Coq, is a megalithic monument located in Pont-à-Mousson, in the department of Meurthe-et-Moselle, in the Lorraine region (now Grand Est). This quadrangular limestone block, with a slightly rounded apex, measures 2.50 metres in height and a maximum thickness of 0.60 metres. Its sides are aligned with the cardinal points, and its local origin is attested by an outcropping bench located 800 meters away. It is located in a forest corner northwest of Pont-à-Mousson, at the border of the commune of Norroy-lès-Pont-à-Mousson.

Menhir is mentioned in ancient Norroy burrows, attesting to its historical existence. It was classified as historical monuments by an order published in the Official Gazette on 18 April 1914. This classification underscores its heritage importance, although knowledge of its exact use during the Neolithic period remains limited. It is one of the few menhirs in the Lorraine region, which is a valuable testimony to local megalithic practices.

The Pierre au Jô is now owned by the commune of Pont-à-Mousson. Its state of conservation and its location in the forest make it a site both discreet and emblematic of the prehistoric heritage of Lorraine. Studies, such as the one published in 1905 by Louis Robert in the Bulletin de la Société préhistorique française, have helped document this monument, without elucidating all the questions about its original function.

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