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Origin and history

The Ardoue stone, also called Ardroue or Ardoué, is a dolmen located in the Rambouillet forest, 1.5 km northwest of the village of Saint-Léger-en-Yvelines. This megalithic monument was mentioned in 1764 as Pierre Ardroue on a map drawn by Berthier. At the end of the 18th century, his funeral chamber was emptied and turned into a shelter for domestic animals, resulting in the loss of about a fifth of his originally larger sandstone table.

The dolmen was classified as historical monuments on 23 May 1906, a protection confirmed in 1924. Consisting of a table of 3 meters long and two orthostats still standing (out of four originally), its exact architecture remains uncertain due to its state of degradation. No sign of tumulus is visible today, and the surrounding debris comes from an old rural building that has disappeared. Since the archaeological layer had been removed well before modern studies, no furniture or bones could be analysed.

According to a local tradition, the dolmen was erected by fairies, reflecting folklore often associated with megaliths. Researchers, like Guégan de l'Isle, thought to identify cupulas on the table, but these seem to be natural formations. The site, close to GR 1, today attracts hikers and enthusiasts of prehistory, although its access is conditioned by its condition and its forest location.

The studies referenced, such as those of John Peek (1975) or Christophe Sence (2004), highlight his likely belonging to the rectangular dolmens of the Beauceron type, distinct from the covered aisles. The sandstone used for the table would come from a deposit located 2 km away, on the other side of the Vesgre valley. Despite the alterations, the site remains a rare testimony of Neolithic in Île-de-France.

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