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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The tumulus-dolmen de la Pineyre, also known as the dolmen de la Pennet (or the Bonnet), is a megalithic building located in Saint-Nectaire, in the department of Puy-de-Dôme. Daté du Neolithique, it is distinguished by its complex architecture, partially masked by its well preserved tumulus. This dolmen consists of four orthostats supporting a single inclined cover table, measuring 3 meters long and 1.50 meters high. The funeral chamber, emptied at an indefinite time, no longer contains archaeological material.

The tumulus, a cairn covered with soil, reaches a diameter of 6 to 8 meters, although it has undergone degradation due to landslides and the creation of a nearby forest path. The roof table, in rounded and polished slab, rests on two of the four supports, creating a reduced interior space. The current opening, located between slabs 1 and 2, may not correspond to the original entrance, according to architectural observations.

Ranked a historical monument by decree of 9 June 1923, the site now belongs to the commune of Saint-Nectaire. No trace of archaeological furniture was found, but its structure and state of conservation make it a remarkable example of the megalithic sites of Puy-de-Dôme. Studies, such as those of Sylvie Amblard in 1983, highlight its importance in understanding neolithic funeral practices in Auvergne.

The location of the monument, near Saint-Nectaire, makes it a point of interest for the study of the megaliths of the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region. Its classification and preservation allow us to study the construction techniques and rituals associated with these collective burials, typical of the Neolithic in Western Europe.

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