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Origin and history

The Pierre au Rey, also known as the Dolmen du Trépied or the Vigie, is a natural granite chaos located in Flamanville, in the English Channel. Composed of three rocks supporting a fourth block, it was first classified as dolmen in 1862, before being downgraded in 2012 after studies proving its natural origin. The inscriptions visible on the stone, attributed sometimes to Vikings, sometimes to the 19th century, remain enigmatic.

In 1833, Le Fillastre and Ragonde reported the monument in their work on the Druidic monuments of the Channel. At the beginning of the 20th century, Léon Coutil described its use by the watchmen of the semaphore, who modified it to make it a shelter. Despite its downgrading, the site retains an archaeological and historical interest, illustrating past misinterpretation.

The structure, 2.65 metres high, was long considered a dolmen because of its triangular shape. The debates on its authenticity, initiated in 1906 by a local scholar, led to its recognition as a natural geological formation. Today, it reflects the challenges of identifying prehistoric remains.

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