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Heritage classified

Origin and history

Pierre Rirette, also known as Pierre du Diable, is a megalithic monument located in Petit-Pressigny, in the department of Indre-et-Loire. Datant of Neolithic, this stone is a vestige of the artisanal practices of the time, used to polish stone tools such as axes or herminettes. Its classification as Historic Monument by decree of 20 July 1912 underlines its archaeological and heritage importance.

The monument is now owned by the Indre-et-Loire department. Although its exact location is poorly specified (note 1/10 according to the Merimée base), it remains a rare testimony of the technical know-how of the Neolithic communities of the Centre-Val de Loire region. These polishers were often associated with places of assembly or exchange, playing a central role in the economic and social life of prehistoric populations.

In the Neolithic region, the Petit-Pressigny region, like other areas of the present-day Centre-Val de Loire, was marked by an agro-pastoral economy and increasing sedentarisation. Polished tools, made by sites such as Pierre Rirette, facilitated the clearing, construction and working of wood. These objects, sometimes exchanged over long distances, reflect the growth of the commercial and cultural networks of the time.

The protection of the polisher in 1912 is part of a broader approach to preserving the French prehistoric heritage, initiated in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. These measures were designed to safeguard remnants threatened by urbanization, intensive agriculture or looting. Today, although the practical information about his visit is limited, the site retains a major scientific and educational value.

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