Timeline

Heritage classified

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Origin and history

Le polishoir du Bois de la Charmille is a sandstone slab located in Villeconin, Essonne department, Île-de-France. Data from Neolithic, this monument outcrops the ground in a forest path and is about 1.70 m long by 1.50 m wide. It has nine almost parallel polishing grooves, as well as four polished concave areas, including one flared groove and three oblong bowls. Some grooves have been damaged, probably by the repeated passage of carts or by voluntary hammering.

The polisher was recognized for its archaeological importance in the late 19th century, obtaining a classification as historical monuments by order of 20 March 1899. This type of monument illustrates Neolithic artisanal practices, where local communities used natural slabs to flatten and polish stone tools, such as axes or grasses. These objects played a central role in the agricultural, forestry and domestic activities of the time.

Historical sources mention this site in specialized inventories, such as Les megalithes de l'Essonne (Alain Bénard, 2012) or L Despite its partially degraded condition, the polisher remains a rare and protected vestige, accessible in its original wooded environment.

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