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Origin and history

The covered stone of the château de la Ferriere, also called dolmen du Bois de la Ferriere, is a megalithic monument located in La Ferriere-de-Flée, in the department of Maine-et-Loire. This small dolmen consists of a rectangular chamber bounded by six local Armomeric stoneware supports, covered with a single table. During the excavations carried out in 1888, human remains (mandibule, teeth, tibia) and a bronze sword were discovered, attesting to its funeral use.

In 1890, M. de Villebois-Mareuil conducted excavations that partially cleared the dolmen of his tumulus, leaving a bowl around the building. These works weakened the structure: the slabs west, south, and east were tilted, while the north side, probably initially closed by two slabs, opened. A slab decorated with a fossil trace of cruziana stands out in the southeast corner. The dolmen was classified as historical monuments in 1989.

The site, though modest, illustrates the neolithic or protohistoric funeral practices of the region. Its present state is the result of 19th century interventions, which altered its stability but also revealed architectural and archaeological elements. The presence of a bronze sword suggests re-use or occupation after its initial construction.

The nearby castle, mentioned in the sources, was redesigned in the 14th and 19th centuries, but its direct link with the dolmen is not documented. The two sites coexist on the estate, showing distinct historical strata: one prehistoric, the other medieval and modern. However, there is no evidence linking their construction or use.

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