Menhir of Belinac
The menhir of Belinac is about two kilometers southeast of Livernon in the Lot department in France . The menhir surrounded by sinkholes is the largest menhir in the Lot at 3.55 m. The rough limestone slab is 1.6 m wide, 0.35 m thick and weighs about 7.5 tons.
It is one of the few menhirs that have been preserved in the Quercy . It takes its name from a place called Belinac, which is less than a kilometer southeast. This name may be reminiscent of a place of worship for the Celtic god Belenus .
It slopes slightly to the south and may have been destroyed by lightning at the top. Jacques-Antoine Delpon (1778–1833) reports the existence of an even larger menhir 30 meters away, which was destroyed by the residents who were on a treasure hunt with five other menhirs in the village of Livernon.
In the Lot department, the relative rarity of menhirs contrasts with the abundance of dolmens . Delpon recorded 37 menhirs. The local toponyms probably testify to ancient sites of which only the name remains. There are currently around ten menhirs listed in the Lot. Their greater fragility in the face of human or natural destruction (frost) could explain this rarity. They are of three types:
- rectangular panels of the same type used in dolmens;
- very slim rough blocks, the authenticity of which is questionable;
- Blocks of different sizes with an irregular shape.
Determining the authenticity of menhirs is a difficult undertaking, and in the case of limestone slabs, the task is even more difficult. The plates never have the undeniable aspect of Breton menhirs of size and monumentality. The fact that there are no artifacts on menhirs makes dating difficult.
The menhir has been classified as a monument historique since 1978 .
See also
Web links
- Entry no.PA00095146 in the Base Mérimée of the French Ministry of Culture (French)
- Description and pictures (French)
- Description and picture (French)
Coordinates: 44 ° 38 ′ 7 ″ N , 1 ° 51 ′ 32 ″ E