Verdier dolmen

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Dolmen 1 of Verdier

The Verdier dolmens are three simple dolmens in Cajarc on the Causse Saint-Chels in the Lot department in France . In France, dolmen is the generic term for Neolithic megalithic structures of all kinds (see: French nomenclature ). The dolmens are far apart in the hamlets of Le Verdier Bas (dolmen 1 or A), La Rive (dolmen 2 or B) and Cajarc (dolmen 3 or C).

Dolmen 1

Dolmen 1 is a double dolmen, consisting of a large dolmen in the northeast and a smaller one in the southwest ( position ). They are located in a round hill about 14.0 m in diameter. The larger of the two was likely built first. It has a capstone broken into several parts, which is inclined due to the side bearing stone sloping to the left.

Large dolmen (dimensions)

  • Capstone 3.6 × 0.4 × 2.5 m
  • Support stone right 2.1 × 0.25 × 0.7 m
  • Support stone on the left 2.65 × 0.25 × 1.0 m

Small dolmen (dimensions)

  • Capstone 1.7 × 0.25 × 1.5 m
  • Support stone right 1.7 × 0.15 × 0.7 m
  • Support stone left 1.7 × 0.15 × 0.6 m
  • End stone 0.7 × 0.1 × 0.6 m

Dolmen 2

Dolmen 2 was excavated in 1967 by Jean Clottes and Michel Lorblanchet ( location ). The tumulus with a diameter of about 15.0 meters is preserved up to a height of 1.5 to 2.0 meters. The hill was originally a cairn . A layer of stone from 0.20 to 0.25 meters thick covered flat-laid slabs. Over time, deposits have accumulated, which today form the tumulus. The dolmen is slightly eccentric to the north. Excavations have shown that the shape of the hill, initially circular, was affected by construction and excavations.

Dolmen 2 (dimensions)

  • Capstone 6.0 × 0.5 × 3.5 m
  • Support stone on the right 4.4 × 0.3 × 1.75 m
  • Support stone left 3.3 × 0.3 × 1.7 m

The capstone is broken into six pieces. Its removal made it possible to study the internal architecture of the dolmen. The dolmen was built using natural fissures ( diaklase ) on the bedrock . The shape of the rock provided the notches for installing the base of the bearing stones. The spaces in between were filled with red clay and stone wedges. The rectangular chamber (4.0 m long, 1.5 m wide and 1.5 m high) was deepened about 30 cm.

Walls were erected parallel to the lateral bearing stones with a distance of about two meters and heights of 1.15 and 1.2 meters. Their construction was likely to strengthen the cairn while the capstone, weighing about 20 tons, was lifted onto the hill.

Finds

The finds were found in small groups near the western bearing stone. They consisted of 28 pearls (20 from limestone ; eight from Gagat ). The human bones consisted of 136 teeth and some bone fragments. The pottery found was too fragmented to provide any information.

Dolmen 3

Dolmen 3 has been partially restored. The right bearing stone and the end plate were replaced by dry masonry to support the capstone ( layer ).

Dolmen 3 (dimensions)

  • Capstone 2.0 × 0.4 × 2.0 m
  • Support stone left 1.4 × 0.18 × 1.3 m

See also

literature

  • Jean Clottes: Inventaire des mégalithes de la France, 5 lot. Supplément à Gallia préhistoire, Éditions du CNRS, 1977, p. 552. ISBN 978-2-222-01945-9 .

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