Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The menhir de Montigny-Saint-Barthélemy is a granite stone located in the cemetery of this commune of Côte-d'Or, in Burgundy-Franche-Comté. Although often presented as a menhir, its megalithic authenticity remains uncertain due to the absence of a clear archaeological context. The stone, of sub-parallelepipedic shape (2.90 m long, 0.69 m wide and 0.55 m thick), has a clear break at its top. It was first reported in 1874 by A. Bruzard, who suggested that it came from a location near a bridge on the road leading to Courcelles-lès-Semur.

Originally lying against the church wall, to the right of the door, the stone could have served as a "stone of the dead", a common practice in the small churches of Morvan. Between 1930 and 1940, she was moved to the left side of the door, then straightened in 1961 to her current location, with the agreement of Abbé J. Joly, then director of the prehistoric antiquities of Burgundy. Classified as a historical monument by decree of 30 June 1910, this stone belongs today to the commune, but its exact origin and function remain obscure.

Although its shape evokes the typical menhirs of Burgundy, the absence of tangible archaeological evidence and its turbulent history (movements, possible reuses) prevent confirmation of its status as a neolithic megalith. Its ranking is based more on historical presumptions than scientific certainty, making it an interesting case study for researchers in regional prehistory.

External links