Construction of dolmen Néolithique (≈ 4100 av. J.-C.)
Initial erection of the megalithic monument.
8 août 2013
First entry MH
First entry MH 8 août 2013 (≈ 2013)
Protection including Lavercantière and Thédirac.
16 juin 2014
Correction of MH entry
Correction of MH entry 16 juin 2014 (≈ 2014)
Protection limited to Lavercantière only.
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui Aujourd'hui (≈ 2025)
Position de référence.
Heritage classified
Archaeological site on Parcel B 761: inscription by order of 16 June 2014
Key figures
Information non disponible - No character cited
The source text does not mention any historical actors.
Origin and history
The Dolmen de Surgès is a megalithic monument located in the south of the municipality of Lavercantière, in the Lot, in the Occitan region. It is located on a pech, a flat and raised land, between the streams of Pont-Barrat and Malemont. This dolmen with a lateral entrance, facing to the southeast, is distinguished by a 1.55 m long room located at the east end of a cairn, which is 33 metres long and 10 metres wide. Although partially ruined (missing or collapsed blankets), it bears witness to complex megalithic architecture.
The dolmen dates from Neolithic, with traces of architectural evolution over several millennia, including reshaping and reuse. Its designation as historical monuments, initially in 2013 for the municipalities of Lavercantière and Thédirac, was corrected in 2014 to cover only Lavercantière. This site is considered exceptional in Quercy due to its size and relative conservation status.
The cairn, of unusual length, suggests a particular importance in the local megalithic landscape. The lateral entrance, perpendicular to the axis of the chamber, is a rare feature in this type of monument. The dolmen thus illustrates the funeral and architectural practices of the Neolithic and Chalcolithic societies of the region, marked by collective constructions and complex rituals.
