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Origin and history

La Pierre-Enlevée, also known as Pierre aux Sorciers, is a menhir located in Vaumort, in the department of Yonne, Burgundy-Franche-Comté. This megalithic monument dates back to the Neolithic period and is distinguished by its dimensions: it is 3.35 meters high for a similar circumference. Its local name evokes legends related to sorcerers, typical of popular narratives associated with megaliths.

The menhir was officially recognized for its heritage value in 1889, when it was classified as historic monuments. This protection reflects the archaeological and cultural interest of this prehistoric vestige. The site is referenced in official inventories, notably in the Mérimée base, under the name Menhir dit La Pierre-Enlevée or La Pierre-Aux-Sorcières.

Vaumort, where this menhir stands, is a village in the Yonne (code INSEE 89434) attached to the Burgundy-Franche-Comté region. In the Neolithic era, this region was marked by an agropastoral society, where megaliths could play a symbolic or ritual role. Menhirs, like Pierre-Enlevée, were often associated with funeral, astronomical or territorial practices, although their exact function remains debated by archaeologists.

Available sources, such as Wikipedia and Monumentum, highlight its importance in local megalithic heritage. A study published in 2007 by Pierre Glaizal in Les menhirs de l'Yonne devotes several pages to this monument, confirming its anchoring in regional history. Today, the Menhir remains a silent witness to the prehistoric communities that shaped this territory.

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