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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The megalithic site of the Poujoulet plateau is an archaeological complex located in the communes of Marvejols and Montrodat, in the department of Lozère (Occitanie). It consists of three dolmens, one of them a double dolmen named dolmen du Poujoulet in Marvejols, and another called dolmen de la Croix du Silvant in Montrodat. These funeral structures date back to Prehistory and reflect the ritual and architectural practices of local neolithic societies.

At the end of the 19th century, archaeologist Barthélémy Prunières searched four dolmens on the site, which he named the Cave aux Fées, the Magical Rendez-vous, the Magician Meal and the Giant Tomb. His work has revealed architectural peculiarities, such as that of the Rendez-vous de la Magie, which he describes as a double dolmen made up of two separate chambers. However, Adrien de Mortillet proposed an alternative interpretation, suggesting that it would rather be a single sewn dolmen, with a secondary chamber serving as a vestibule.

The site was the subject of successive heritage protections: a first dolmen was classified as historical monuments in 1889, while the remaining three dolmens were listed by two decrees dated 20 April 1990. These measures highlight the historical and archaeological importance of the site, which provides valuable insight into the region's megalithic cultures. However, assumptions about the function and precise dating of dolmens remain subject to debate among specialists.

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