Construction period Néolithique (≈ 4100 av. J.-C.)
Site dated Neolithic.
17 juillet 1981
Historical monument classification
Historical monument classification 17 juillet 1981 (≈ 1981)
Official protection order.
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui Aujourd'hui (≈ 2025)
Position de référence.
Heritage classified
Prehistoric set composed of habitats, cairn and funerary enclosures: ranking by decree of 17 July 1981
Key figures
Information non disponible - No character cited
Sources do not mention any actors.
Origin and history
The prehistoric ensemble of the Butte aux Pierres, located in Saint-Joachim in the Loire-Atlantique, is a major archaeological site dating from the Neolithic. It consists of habitats, cairns (megalithic Tombs) and funerary enclosures, reflecting the social and ritual practices of the local populations of that time. The site is located in the landscape of Brière, a wetland characteristic of the region.
The monument was listed as historic monuments by order of 17 July 1981, thereby recognizing its exceptional heritage value. Owned by a private company, it is located precisely near the Buisson des Saules, in the commune of Saint-Joachim, in the Loire-Atlantique department (code Insee 44168). Available data are mainly from official sources such as the Merimée database and platforms such as Monumentum.
In the Neolithic era, communities in western France, such as those in Brière, lived mainly in agriculture, livestock farming and the collection of local resources. Funeral sites and clustered habitats, such as Saint-Joachim, played a central role in social and spiritual organization. These ensembles served both as places of life, burial and assembly, reflecting a society structured around collective practices and beliefs related to death and beyond.
