Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The Polissoir de la Vesinière is a prehistoric monument located in Cheftimes, in the department of Vendée (Pays de la Loire). This quartz block, used to sharpen stone tools, features 17 grooves and a polishing bowl, including a 50 cm long groove for 6 cm wide. A diorite polished axe was discovered in the immediate vicinity of the site, confirming its artisanal use.

Ranked under the title of historical monuments by order of 8 July 1926, this polisher bears witness to the techniques of cutting and polishing stone tools during prehistory. The studies conducted by Dr. Marcel Baudouin, published in 1912 in the Bulletin de la Société préhistorique française, documented his physical characteristics and archaeological context. The site is located on the Vesinière farm, at approximately 1 La Vesinière, 85390 Cheftimes.

This type of monument illustrates the artisanal practices of the Neolithic communities, where polishers played a central role in the manufacture of agricultural or domestic tools. The Vendée, rich in megalithic sites, has several similar remains, reflecting an ancient human occupation and technical know-how shared on a regional scale.

External links