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Heritage classified

Origin and history

The Polissoir de la Marotte, also known as the Plessis polisher, is a megalithic monument located in Mauléon, in the Deux-Sèvres department. This triangular granite block, 1.12 m long, 0.85 m wide and 0.40 m high, has a large polishing groove 38 cm long and 5 cm deep. It was discovered in the farm of the castle of the Marotte, where it is still preserved today.

The polisher was classified as historical monuments by order of 7 March 1945. This type of tool, typical of Neolithic, was used to sharpen or polish stone objects, reflecting the craft techniques and know-how of the prehistoric communities of the region. Its current location in the park of the Château de la Marotte makes it a rare and preserved testimony of this time.

According to available sources, including Monumentum and Wikipedia, the polisher is located at approximately 40 La Marotte, Saint-Aubin, 79700 Mauléon. The accuracy of its location is estimated as fair (note 5/10), which may indicate uncertainties about its exact location within the domain. No information is provided on its accessibility to the public or related services such as guided tours.

The polisher fits into a regional context marked by a significant presence of megaliths, characteristic of neolithic societies. These tools, often associated with funerary or domestic sites, illustrate the importance of stone size and work in the daily and ritual activities of the time. Their preservation makes it possible today to study the techniques and lifestyles of prehistoric populations in Poitou-Charentes, now integrated into the New Aquitaine region.

No mention is made in the available sources concerning historical characters related to this polisher, nor any anecdotes specific to its use or its modern rediscovery. Its classification in 1945, however, underscores its heritage and archaeological interest, thus protecting a tangible vestige of Neolithic know-how.

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