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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

La Roche au Diable is a megalithic vestige located in Paley, Seine-et-Marne, Île-de-France, in the department of Seine-et-Marne. This monument, dated from Neolithic, is distinguished by its 1.70 m long sandstone slab, barely touching the ground, and its four polishing grooves (measured between 0.45 m and 0.82 m). These grooves, used to sharpen or polish stone tools, bear witness to the craft techniques of the time. The site was classified as historic monuments on 28 February 1923, recognizing its archaeological and heritage value.

According to a local legend reported by the sources, the polisher is linked to a mythical confrontation between Saint George and Satan. The latter, defied by a palet game by the saint, would have left the print of his fingers hooked into the rock after losing the game. This folk anecdote, although after the Neolithic period, illustrates how local communities have interpreted these mysterious remains throughout the centuries, attributing symbolic accounts to explain their origin.

The polisher is part of a larger set of megalithic sites in Seine-et-Marne, where several similar monuments have been identified. His study, notably by archaeologists such as Alain Bénard (author of Les megalithes de Seine-et-Marne, 2009), makes it possible to better understand the craft practices and networks of Neolithic exchange. The accuracy of its location is estimated to be satisfactory (level 6/10), and the site remains accessible, although practical information on visits is limited in available sources.

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