Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The Menhir de l'Orrière, also called Pierre sonnante de l'Aurière, and the Dolmen de l'Aurière are two megaliths located in Chigné, in the department of Maine-et-Loire. Located about 200 metres away, these monuments date from Neolithic. The menhir, a sandstone monolith of elongated pyramidal shape, is now 1.60 m above the ground, although historical records indicate that it was up to 2 m in 1865. His name comes from a local legend saying he 'sounds' at noon. Long confused with a departmental boundary because of its proximity to the boundary between Maine-et-Loire and the Sarthe, it illustrates the preservation challenges associated with agricultural work, the soil gradually rising around it.

The Dolmen de l'Aurière, now collapsed, was originally a rectangular monument consisting of a cover table (2 m x 3 m x 0.70 m thick) supported by three orthostates of uneven sizes. A photograph of the early twentieth century attests to its structure before its collapse: the north slab, pierced by two probably natural holes, remained in place, while the southern pillars collapsed, leading to the table. At a time when the dolmens were associated with human sacrifices, a local legend evoked a "protuberance used to pillow immolated girls", reflecting the fanciful interpretations of these remains before their scientific study.

Both megaliths were listed as historic monuments in 1983, recognizing their heritage value. Their present state — menhir partially buried and dolmen ruined — highlights the challenges of conservation of megalithic sites, often vulnerable to human activities and time erosion. Historical sources, such as Michel Gruet's work in Mégalithes en Anjou (2005), document their evolution and the beliefs associated with them, providing insight into the funeral and symbolic practices of Neolithic in the region.

The exact location of the megaliths has been confused, particularly with an approximate address to Dissé-suble-Lude (Sarthe), although the official data (Merimée database) clearly place them in Chigné (Maine-et-Loire). This geographical ambiguity, coupled with their proximity to the departmental boundary, contributed to past identification errors. Today, their preservation depends on their recognition as listed monuments, although their access and visibility remain limited by their state of degradation.

External links