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Origin and history

The Menhir de la Croix de Salvetat, also known as Menhir des Gazets or Crotz Grossa, is a megalithic monument located in Monestiés, Tarn department (Occitan region). This conglomerate monolith, dating from the Neolithic period, was rear-cut to adopt a cross shape, with engravings and lateral eviscerations. A cup is visible on its front face, while the back has remained raw. Its dimensions are 1.39 m high and 0.50 m wide and thick.

Ranked as historical monuments since 4 June 1981, this menhir illustrates the practice of Christianization of raised stones, common in some French regions. The official classification specifically concerns the menhir under the name Croix de Salvetat, located at the cadaster AB 108, at the corner of the departmental road 80 and the rural road from the Salvetat to the Truel. The property belongs to the municipality of Monestiés.

Historical sources mention this site in specialized books, such as Les Mégalithes du département du Tarn (1981) by Jean Lautier, published by the Fédération Tarnaise de Séléo-Archéologie. Menhir is listed in the Merimée base and associated with the Tarn megalithic sites, highlighting its regional heritage importance. Its exact location, although documented, is considered to be of satisfactory a priori accuracy (level 6/10) according to the available data.

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