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Origin and history

The ten-fingered stone polisher is a megalithic monument located in Villemaur-sur-Vanne, in the Aube department, in the Grand Est region. Data from Neolithic, this monolith of 2 meters long, 1.85 meters wide and 30 centimetres thick has 12 grooves and 7 polishing bowls, although ancient representations (like that of Émile Pilot in 1881) suggest the past existence of 3 grooves and 2 additional bowls, now missing. These traces demonstrate a long and significant use for the polishing of stone tools by local prehistoric communities.

The polisher has been included in the inventory of historic monuments since 14 April 1993, recognizing its heritage and archaeological value. It is about 2 km west of the village, at the edge of the Bois de Villemaur, near a road crossing, in a place called Le Luteau. The varied depth and size of the grooves (3 to 6 cm deep and 24 to 76 cm long) reveal frequentation, probably linked to Neolithic artisanal or ritual activities.

According to a local legend, the grooves would be the fingerprints of Saint Flavy, who would have leaned on the stone to rise. A popular tradition also combines the site with healing practices: feverish patients attached yarns of wool to surrounding trees in the hope of being cured. These beliefs illustrate the persistence of a symbolic link between the monument and communities, well beyond its original use period.

Archaeological studies, such as those conducted by Adrien de Mortillet in 1906 or the research published in Discovering the Megaliths of the Dawn (1990), highlight the importance of this polishing in the regional megalithic landscape. Its precise location, its state of conservation and the traces of wear observed make it a valuable material testimony of neolithic techniques and lifestyles in Champagne-Ardenne.

Today, the site benefits from an online 3D model, made by stereophotogrammetry, which allows to study and visualize the monument from different angles. This modern initiative complements historical and archaeological sources, offering a new approach to the preservation and enhancement of this prehistoric heritage.

Owned by the municipality of Villemaur-sur-Vanne, the polisher remains an open place to visit, although its location on the edge of wood and its condition can make access less easy. Its inscription in the title of historical monuments guarantees its protection, while inviting a reflection on the artisanal and spiritual practices of the Neolithic societies of the region.

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