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Origin and history

The Neuilly-Saint-Front polisher is a megalithic monument consisting of a block of sandstone, marked by grooves and polishing bowls. Filed with historical monuments in 1970, it is located in front of the apse of Saint-Front Chapel, on the road to Rassy. This type of stone was used in Neolithic to sharpen or polish stone tools.

According to a local legend, the Holy Front of Périgueux, evangelizer of the region in the third century, fought a dragon whose tail blows would have dug visible furrows. A dove would have brought wine for Mass, and a nearby stone would carry the stamp of the saint's horse. This legend could be a Christianization of a pre-existing pagan ritual, where the future spouses drank wine in the grooves to seal their union.

Originally, the polisher was located about 1 km from the village, before being moved to its current location. Its initial use, linked to Neolithic artisanal practices, contrasts with medieval narratives that attributed it a symbolic and religious dimension. Studies, such as those of E. Taté in 1917, underline its archaeological and folkloric importance.

The monument is now owned by the commune of Neuilly-Saint-Front, in the department of Aisne (Hauts-de-France). Its precise location, at approximately 12 Rue de la Libération, makes it a point of interest for the study of megalithic sites in the region.

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