Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The site of the prehistoric remains of the Bois de la Vergentière, located in Cohons (Haute-Marne), includes a necropolis and habitat dating from the Middle and Recent Neolithic, as well as the Final Bronze Age. The necropolis consists of nine tumuli, some of which contain dolmens or megalithic trunks. These structures, partially looted and degraded by logging, were studied between 1976 and 1985 by Louis Lepage. Dolmen No. 1, dated from the Middle Neolithic and reused at the Final Neolithic, has a burial chamber facing south-south-east/north-northwest, while Dolmen No. 2, also from the Middle Neolithic, maintains an intact cover table.

The camp, located south of the necropolis, is a barred spur protected by natural abrupts and a rise of land and stones. Occupied from Neolithic time, he delivered local pottery, imported flint and bones of domestic animals, attesting to continued occupation until the Middle Ages. The site was first described in 1863 by Henri Defay. It has been listed as historic monuments since 1990, recognizing its archaeological and heritage significance.

The excavations revealed that the site was used as early as Paleolithic, although its main occupation dates back to Neolithic. The tumuli, of various sizes and structures, illustrate diverse funeral practices. Some, such as the fourth tumulus, have been completely emptied by ancient looting, while others, such as the sixth, do not seem to contain internal structures. These remains provide valuable testimony to the prehistoric societies of the region.

Louis Lepage played a key role in the study of the site, conducting systematic excavations over nearly ten years. His work has made it possible to clearly date certain monuments and to better understand their evolution, including the reuse of Dolmen No. 1 in the final Neolithic. The objects discovered, although few for some tumuli, provide clues on the exchanges and cultural practices of the time.

The site is now protected and recognized for its archaeological value. Its registration in 1990 preserved these remains in the face of natural and human threats. The location of the site on a south-facing plateau suggests a strategic choice for habitat and funeral practices, reflecting the importance of landscape in prehistoric societies.

External links