Construction period Néolithique (≈ 4100 av. J.-C.)
Estimated erection of menhirs.
1940
Charles Morel Inventory
Charles Morel Inventory 1940 (≈ 1940)
Mention of four original menhirs.
5 juin 1941
Registration for historical monuments
Registration for historical monuments 5 juin 1941 (≈ 1941)
Official protection of the three menhirs.
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui Aujourd'hui (≈ 2025)
Position de référence.
Heritage classified
The three menhirs: inscription by decree of 5 June 1941
Key figures
Charles Morel - Archaeologist and inventor
Documented menhirs in 1940.
Origin and history
Menhirs de la Can d'Issanges form a megalithic complex located in Bédouès, in the department of Lozère, in the Occitanie region. This group, composed today of three granite menhirs, dates back to the Neolithic period. Originally, according to Charles Morel's 1940 inventory, four menhirs about 3 metres high were present on the site. These monuments reflect the cultural and religious practices of local prehistoric societies, although their exact function remains debated by archaeologists.
The site was officially recognized and protected by an order of 5 June 1941, which listed the remaining three menhirs as historical monuments. This protection reflects the heritage importance of these vestiges, representative of the megalithism in Lozère. Menhirs de la Can d'Issanges are part of a wider network of regional megalithic sites, illustrating the human occupation and beliefs of neolithic communities in southern France. Their preservation allows us to study the techniques of size and erection of megaliths, as well as their role in the prehistoric landscape.
Available data from sources such as Wikipedia and Monumentum highlight the approximate location of the site near Bédouès, with an Insee code (48050) confirming its anchoring in the Lozère. Although information on their precise use or ritual context is lacking, these menhirs remain a tangible marker of the region's ancient history, attracting the attention of researchers and heritage enthusiasts.