Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The Petit-Fontenail polisher, also known as the Fontenailles Fort polisher, is a megalithic vestige discovered in 1879 in Nourray, Loir-et-Cher. This 4.30 metre block of glossy sandstone and puddingue features 19 grooves, 12 bowls and 8 polishing beaches, characteristic of neolithic tools. It was classified as a historical monument in 1889, highlighting its archaeological importance.

Moved twice, first in 1883 a few tens of meters from its original location, then in 1966 near the village church, this polisher illustrates the practices of conservation and presentation of the prehistoric heritage. Its current location, place of the Church in Nourray, facilitates its access to the public.

Polishers, such as the Petit-Fontenail, were used to sharpen and polish stone tools (haches, herminettes) during Neolithic. Their presence attests to a sedentary human occupation and advanced mastery of the techniques of size. This monument, owned by the commune, remains a rare testimony of the artisanal know-how of this period in the Centre-Val de Loire.

Available sources, including the work of Jackie Despriée and Claude Leymarios (1974), confirm his scientific interest. Its early ranking (1889) made it one of the first prehistoric monuments protected in France, alongside other megalithic sites of the Loir-et-Cher.

External links