Megalithic sites in Pyrénées-Orientales
Ancient stone structures in France
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The megalithic sites of the Pyrénées-Orientales are a group of 148 dolmens and 4 menhirs[1] located in the French department of Pyrénées-Orientales.
Natural surroundings
The Pyrénées-Orientales department is located in the extreme south of France, eastern section of the Pyrenees mountain range and the Plaine du Roussillon . The mountainous region of the county consists of the Albera massif to the southeast, the Corbières massif to the north, and the historic regions of Vallespir, Conflent, Cerdagne, and Capcir, which make up almost 50% of the department's total area.
The Roussillon plain lacks any megaliths. These stone structures are generally situated at elevated positions, such as on ridges, passes or flat areas and frequently function as borders between communes that were once villages. Dolmens have served as boundary markers since at least the early Middle Ages.
The rock materials used to construct these monuments, including gneiss, granite, and limestone, are readily available at dolmen sites. Apart from the limestone Corbières massif, the soils in this area tend to be acidic.
Characteristics
Unlike the dolmens in the neighboring Aude department or Spain's Alt Empordà, those found in the Pyrénées-Orientales are diminutive in size. The largest one is the Balma de Na Cristiana .
For the most part, they feature a basic rectangular layout, with a chevet slab bearing two side slabs, all of which are covered by a single slab. The fourth side is left open to act as the entrance to the dolmen, which could have a wooden or stone opening mechanism. Few dolmens are larger and have a corridor due to the extension of side slabs, giving them an elongated shape.
However, these original designs underwent modifications over the years. Not a single dolmen has been discovered intact, all have been looted, emptied, and reused, sometimes as early as prehistoric or ancient times. Slabs have frequently been relocated or destroyed.
Many dolmens bear cupules that are often connected by engraved gutters. Sometimes, they are associated with cross-shaped engravings. Unadorned dolmens may be accompanied by nearby engraved rocks.
Most organic remains have been destroyed by the acidity of the soil.
List
In his 2011 publication, Jean Abélanet outlines 147 dolmens in the Pyrénées-Orientales, along with 5 menhirs, including those mentioned in ancient sources but not yet discovered.[2] The Dolmen de Castelló discovered in 2011 is not included.[3] Carreras and Tarrús completed their list in 2012, documenting 125 megalithic sites, 114 burials, and 10 menhirs, in addition to one necropolis.[4] They identify 19 sites as potentially false or doubtful.[5] The Castelló dolmen is also omitted from their count. In 2017, Carreras and Tarrus published an article that lists megaliths discovered between 1999 and 2015 in the county and neighboring Alt Empordà. Three megaliths were found in the Pyrenees-Orientales.[6]
The authors unanimously agree that the Statue-menhir de Caramat is not a statue-menhir.
Dolmens in the Pyrenees-Orientales are typically situated in hilly or mountainous areas of the department, usually on a col, ridge, or high ground.[7] In Jean Abélanet's book, coordinates in Lambert III format were provided, but this format has proven problematic as a majority of the coordinates are incorrect.[8]
The following list consists of six columns:
- the name of the monument, with any variants and the sources of the assertions (Abélanet 2011 and Carreras and Tarrús 2013 in general);
- type of monument (dolmen, menhir...);
- an "Authors" column giving the names of the first authors to have published the monument. When Jean Abélanet or Carreras et Tarrús dispute the status of a megalithic monument, this is indicated by a No;
- the commune in which the monument is located;
- the GPS coordinates given by Carreras and Tarrús[9]
- if available, an illustration.
| Megalith | Type | Authors | Commune | Coordinates | Illustration |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dolmen de Las Apostados [10] or dolmen dels Apostadors[11] | dolmen | Vigo 1961 | Trilla | 42°44′56″N 2°31′13″E | |
| Arca de la Font Roja [12] | disappeared dolmen | Ponsich 1949 | Caixas | in process of geolocalization | |
| Arca de Calahons ,[13] called dolmen de l'Arca de Calahons or dolmen de Calahons II[14] | Simple dolmen (cist) | Abélanet 1970 | Catllar, boundary with Molitg-les-Bains and Eus | 42°39′25″N 2°25′4″E | |
| Balma de Na Cristiana [15] | dolmen | Jaubert de Passa 1847 (attributed to Pallary 1887 by Abélanet) | L'Albère | 42°29′4″N 2°53′14″E |  |
| Balma del Moro [16] | dolmen | Jaubert de Réart 1835 | Laroque-des-Albères | 42°29′59″N 2°56′27″E |  |
| La Barraca (dolmen) , or Dolmen 1 du Mas Llussanes[17] or Barraca del Mas Llussanés[18] | dolmen | Vidal 1921 | Tarerach | 42°40′22″N 2°30′42″E | |
| Dolmen de Bohera [19] | dolmen | Abélanet 1970 | Prades | 42°35′39″N 2°25′49″E |  |
| Dolmen de La Borda [20] | dolmen | Abélanet, Cura and Padró 1975 | Eyne | 42°29′9″N 2°4′36″E |  |
| Cabana del Moro [21] | dolmen | Jaubert de Réart 1832 | Llauro | 42°33′11″N 2°45′1″E |  |
| Caixa del Camp de l'Obra [22] | dolmen | Abélanet 1970 | Taillet | 42°31′50″N 2°39′54″E |  |
| Caixa del Moro [23] | dolmen | Jaubert de Réart 1832 | Taulis | 42°31′5″N 2°37′54″E | |
| Caixa de Rotllan[24] | dolmen | Renard de Saint-Malo 1837 | Arles-sur-Tech | 42°28′52″N 2°36′4″E |  |
| Caixeta [25] | dolmen | Devaux 1934 | Camélas | 42°38′41″N 2°40′30″E | |
| Dolmen du Camp Gran I [26] | dolmen | Saint-Michel-de-Llotes | in process of geolocalization |  | |
| Dolmen du Camp Gran II [26] | dolmen | Bouleternère | in process of geolocalization |  | |
| Dolmen du Camp de Seris [27] | destroyed dolmen | Reynès | 42°30′19″N 2°41′35″E | ||
| Caouno del Moro [28] | dolmen | Feilluns | 42°45′46″N 2°29′48″E | ||
| Caseta [29] | dolmen | Corsavy | 42°29′13″N 2°33′14″E | ||
| Dolmen du Castell de Bellpuig [30] | dolmen | Prunet-et-Belpuig | 42°33′35″N 2°37′6″E | ||
| Dolmen de Castelló [3] | dolmen | Prats-de-Mollo-la-Preste | 42°25′15″N 2°27′58″E | ||
| Dolmen de Cayenne [31] | dolmen | Campoussy | 42°40′50″N 2°27′20″E | ||
| Cementiri dels Moros [32] | dolmen | Boule-d'Amont | 42°35′24″N 2°34′47″E | ||
| Dolmen de Coberturat [33] | dolmen | Corneilla-de-Conflent | 42°34′3″N 2°22′2″E |  | |
| Dolmen du Coll de la Creu [34] | dolmen | Clara-Villerach-Villerach | 42°35′39″N 2°25′49″E |  | |
| Dolmen du Coll de la Farella [35] | dolmen | Cerbère / Portbou (Spain) | 42°26′25″N 3°7′53″E |  | |
| Dolmen du Coll de la Llosa [36] | dolmen | Bouleternère / Casefabre / Saint-Michel-de-Llotes (boundary between the three communes) | 42°37′52″N 2°36′18″E |  | |
| Dolmen du Coll de les Portes [37] | dolmen | Cerbère | 42°26′45″N 3°7′13″E |  | |
| Dolmen du Coll del Tribe [38] | dolmen | Molitg-les-Bains | 42°40′44″N 2°24′34″E | ||
| Tumulus de Collada Verda [39] | two tumulus | Py, Mantet, Prats-de-Mollo-la-Preste | 42°27′30″N 2°24′10″E | ||
| Collades (dolmen de les)[40] | destroyed dolmen | Amélie-les-Bains-Palalda, Maçanet de Cabrenys | 42°24′45″N 2°42′16″E | ||
| Dolmen des Collets de Cotlliure [41] | dolmen | Argelès-sur-Mer | 42°31′15″N 3°2′0″E |  | |
| Dolmen de las Colombinos [42] | dolmen | Trilla | 42°44′55″N 2°31′54″E | ||
| Dolmen de las Coma Enestapera [43] | dolmen | Cerbère | 42°27′8″N 3°8′32″E |  | |
| Dolmen du Correc de Montou [44] | destroyed dolmen | Camélas | 42°38′58″N 2°40′54″E | ||
| Cova de l'Alarb [45] | dolmen | Banyuls-sur-Mer | 42°27′39″N 3°3′20″E | ||
| Cova de l'Alarb [46] | dolmen | Collioure | 42°30′16″N 3°3′26″E | ||
| Cova de l'Alarb [47] | dolmen | Argelès-sur-Mer | 42°31′32″N 3°2′5″E |  | |
| Cova del Camp de la Marunya [48] | dolmen | Diario 1913 | Enveitg | 42°28′54″N 1°54′20″E | .jpg) |
| Cova d'en Rotllan [49] | two dolmens | Corsavy | 42°29′22″N 2°34′15″E | ||
| Dolmen de la Creu de la Llosa [50] | restored dolmen | Saint-Michel-de-Llotes | 42°38′3″N 2°38′37″E |  | |
| Dolmen de la Creu del Senyal [51] | destroyed dolmen | Le Boulou | 42°30′20″N 2°51′46″E |  | |
| Dolmen de La Femno Morto [52] | dolmen | Campoussy | 42°41′2″N 2°26′3″E | ||
| Dolmen de la Font de l'Arca [53] | dolmen | Campoussy | 42°42′14″N 2°26′46″E | ||
| Dolmen de la Font de l'Aram I [54] | three dolmens, one ruined and one destroyed | Ria-Sirach | 42°37′15″N 2°21′51″E | ||
| Dolmen de la Font de l'Orri [55] | dolmen | Eus (hameau of Comes, Pyrénées-Orientales ) | 42°40′27″N 2°26′25″E | ||
| Dolmen de Formentera [56] | dolmen | Montbolo | 42°29′41″N 2°37′51″E | ||
| Dolmen de Galuert [57] | dolmen | Llauro | 42°32′11″N 2°44′30″E |  | |
| Dolmen de Gratallops [58] | dolmen | Banyuls-sur-Mer | 42°27′28″N 3°8′11″E |  | |
| Dolmen de la Guardiola [59] | dolmen | Rodès | 42°39′44″N 2°32′57″E | ||
| Jassa Gran (dolmen de la)[60] | composite dolmen (tumulus containing two dolmen chests) | location to be defined | Valcebollère | 42°24′N 2°1′E | |
| Semi-dolmen de la Llosa del Cortal dels Polls [61] | semi-dolmen | Arboussols | 42°40′7″N 2°27′59″E | ||
| Lloseta (dolmen) [62] | dolmen | Clara-Villerach | 42°36′13″N 2°27′17″E |  | |
| Dolmen du Mas Llussanes II [63] | dolmen | Tarerach | 42°40′19″N 2°30′46″E |  | |
| Dolmen du Mas Payrot [64] | dolmen | Saint-Michel-de-Llotes | 42°38′33″N 2°38′24″E | ||
| Dolmen 2 de los Masos [65] | dolmen | Saint-Michel-de-Llotes | 42°38′33″N 2°38′16″E | ||
| Molí (dolmen d'El)[66] | dolmen | Eyne | in process of geolocalization | ||
| Dolmen du Molí del Vent [67] | dolmen | Bélesta | 42°43′37″N 2°36′20″E |  | |
| Dolmen del Molló [68] | dolmen | Mosset | 42°40′53″N 2°20′51″E | ||
| Dolmen de Montsec [69] | two dolmens | Ria-Sirach | 42°37′21″N 2°23′3″E | ||
| Dolmen de la Mort de l'Éguassier [70] | dolmen | Trévillach | in process of geolocalization | ||
| Dolmen de l'Oliveda d'en David [71] | dolmen | Salses-le-Château | 42°52′17″N 2°56′47″E |  | |
| Dolmen de l'Oratori [72] | dolmen | Saint-Marsal | 42°31′38″N 2°35′56″E | ||
| Pedra Dreta de l'Agly [73] | menhir | Espira-de-l'Agly | 42°49′8″N 2°47′57″E | ||
| Pedra Dreta de Caladroer [74] | broken menhir on the ground | Bélesta | 42°43′40″N 2°39′26″E |  | |
| Pedra Dreta del Coll de la Dona Morta[40] | menhir | Amélie-les-Bains-Palalda, Maçanet de Cabrenys | 42°24′33″N 2°41′45″E | ||
| Pedra Dreta de Sant Salvador [75] | menhir | Cerbère | 42°26′24″N 3°8′8″E | ||
| Dolmen de Peyrelada [76] | dolmen | Mosset | 42°40′11″N 2°21′42″E | ||
| Dolmen du Pla de l'Arca [77] | dolmen | Castelnou | 42°35′50″N 2°41′18″E | ||
| Dolmen du Pla de l'Arca [78] | dolmen | Molitg-les-Bains | 42°40′23″N 2°24′2″E | ||
| Dolmen du Pla d'Arques I [79] | two dolmens, including one destroyed | Fuilla | 42°32′31″N 2°20′25″E | ||
| Semi-dolmen du Pla de les Egues [80] | semi-dolmen | Boule-d'Amont | 42°34′46″N 2°34′29″E | ||
| Dolmens du Pla de Tarters [81] | two dolmens, cupped rocks | Serdinya | 42°33′31″N 2°19′50″E | ||
| Pierre plantée du Planal de la Coma del Llop [82] | likely menhir | Vingrau | 42°50′18″N 2°49′10″E | ||
| Dolmen de Lo Pou [83] | dolmen | Eyne | 42°28′52″N 2°4′46″E |  | |
| Dolmen de Prat Clos [84] | dolmen | Ria-Sirach | 42°37′37″N 2°22′49″E | ||
| Dolmen du Puig del Fornas [85] | dolmen | Approximate coordinates | Saint-Michel-de-Llotes | 42°37′56″N 2°38′24″E | |
| Dolmen d'el Quadró [86] | destroyed dolmen | Montesquieu-des-Albères | 42°31′39″N 2°52′53″E |  | |
| Dolmen de la Ramera I [87] | two dolmens | Caixas | 42°36′22″N 2°40′5″E | ||
| Dolmen de Ribes Rojes [88] | dolmen | Taulis | 42°30′43″N 2°37′11″E | ||
| Dolmen du roc de l'Arca [89] | dolmen | Feilluns | 42°45′46″N 2°29′48″E | ||
| Roc de l'Arquet [90] | dolmen | Planèzes | 42°45′25″N 2°37′44″E | ||
| Dolmen du Roc de l'Home mort [91] | dolmen | Ria-Sirach | 42°37′50″N 2°21′44″E | ||
| Dolmen du Roc de Jornac [92] | dolmen | Urbanya | 42°37′44″N 2°19′41″E |  | |
| Dolmen du Roc del Llamp [93] | dolmen | Castelnou | 42°36′44″N 2°41′38″E | ||
| Roca d'Arques [94] | dolmen | Oreilla | 42°33′42″N 2°14′23″E | ||
| Dolmen de la Rouyre [95] | dolmen | Ansignan | 42°45′43″N 2°30′26″E | ||
| Dolmen de Les Saleres [40] | dolmen | Les Cluses | 42°29′46″N 2°50′28″E | ||
| Dolmen de Sant Pere dels Forquets [96] | dolmen | Argelès-sur-Mer | 42°31′1″N 3°1′37″E | ||
| Dolmen de Sant Ponci [97] | dolmen | Molitg-les-Bains | 42°39′33″N 2°24′7″E | ||
| Dolmen de la Serra Mitjana [98] | dolmen | Catllar, Eus | 42°39′27″N 2°25′48″E | ||
| Dolmen de la Serra de Santa Eulàlia I [99] | dolmen | Fuilla | 42°33′55″N 2°20′51″E | ||
| Dolmen de la Serra de Santa Eulàlia II [99] | dolmen | Fuilla | 42°34′5″N 2°20′47″E | ||
| Dolmen du Serrat Blanc [100] | dolmen | Rodès | 42°40′42″N 2°32′4″E | ||
| Dolmen du Serrat de les Fonts I [101] | dolmen | Saint-Marsal | 42°32′17″N 2°36′38″E | ||
| Dolmen du Serrat de les Fonts II [102] | dolmen | Saint-Marsal | 42°32′12″N 2°36′29″E | ||
| Dolmen du Serrat d'en Jacques [103] | dolmen | Caixas / Saint-Michel-de-Llotes | 42°38′6″N 2°38′46″E | ||
| Dolmen du Serrat d'en Jacques [104] | semi-dolmen | Saint-Michel-de-Llotes | 42°38′19″N 2°38′49″E | ||
| Dolmen du Serrat d'en Parrot [105] | dolmen | Corneilla-de-Conflent | 42°34′52″N 2°23′16″E |  | |
| Dolmen du Sola dels Clots [106] | dolmen | Castelnou | 42°35′40″N 2°42′26″E | ||
| Dolmen de la Siureda [107] | dolmen | Maureillas-las-Illas | 42°27′47″N 2°47′29″E |  | |
| Tumbo dels Espandiols [108] | dolmen | Maury | 42°48′14″N 2°33′9″E | ||
| Dolmen de Valltorta [109] | dolmen | Saint-Michel-de-Llotes | 42°39′9″N 2°36′38″E |  | |
| La Peralada[110] | Dolmen? | Salses-le-Château | in process of geolocalization | ||
| Dolmen du Camp de l'Ariquet[111] | Dolmenic chest? | Estagel | in process of geolocalization | ||
| Pedra Llarga du Col de la Bataille[112] | Cupule rock and possible dolmen | The coordinates given are those of a beautiful cup rock. The dolmen, if it exists, should be nearby. | Millas | in process of geolocalization | |
| Dolmen de Caladroer or du Correc de la Pedra Dreta[113] | Dolmen | Documented dolmen, destroyed by agricultural work in the early 1970s. | Bélesta | in process of geolocalization | |
| Dolmen Arca de la Ginebrosa[114] | Covered walkway? | Bélesta | in process of geolocalization | ||
| Piló de la Llausa[115] | Dolmen transformed into hut, in ruins | Montalba-le-Château | in process of geolocalization | ||
| Dolmen du Serrat de Corda[116] | Dolmen | Reported in 1961 by André Vigo, but inaccurately. Has not been found since. | Feilluns | in process of geolocalization | |
| Dolmen de Peyrolado[117] | Dolmen | Reported in the 19th century. Possibly destroyed when the railroad was built. | Saint-Paul-de-Fenouillet | in process of geolocalization | |
| Dolmen de l'Arca[118] | Dolmen | Cup stones have been found nearby. | Millas or Néfiach | in process of geolocalization | |
| Dolmen du lieu-dit Les Cassettes[119] | Dolmen | Cross-engraved rock nearby. | Néfiach | in process of geolocalization | |
| Dolmen du Serrat de les Costes[120] | Dolmen | Evidence of a stone with cupules. | Llauro | in process of geolocalization | |
| Dolmen des Arques del Coll de Maure[121] | Dolmen | Attested by Pierre Ponsich in 1985. | Camélas | in process of geolocalization | |
| Dolmen de Cal Aussell de Dalt[122] | Dolmen | Attested in the 1950s. Possibly since destroyed. | Caixas | in process of geolocalization | |
| Menhir de Perafita [123] | Menhir or milestone? | Attested as early as 981. | Cerbère | 42°27′21″N 3°9′33″E |  |
| Dolmen du Coll de Seris[124] | Dolmen | Reported by Ludovic Martinet in 1884. Not attested since. | Cerbère | in process of geolocalization | |
| Dolmen du Coll de Molló[125] | Dolmen | Attested by several authors in the 19th century. Probably since destroyed. | Collioure | in process of geolocalization | |
| L'Arqueta[126] | Dolmen | Collioure | in process of geolocalization | ||
| Caixa del Moro du Montner de Prunet[127] | Dolmen | Reported by Joseph Jaubert de Réart, since lost. | Prunet-et-Belpuig | in process of geolocalization | |
| La Peralada[128] | Dolmen | Espira-de-Conflent | in process of geolocalization | ||
| Dolmen de La Portella[129] | Dolmen | Reported by Isidore Rouffandis in 1872, not found since. | Molitg-les-Bains? | in process of geolocalization | |
| La Bressa[130] | Dolmen | Reported by Jaubert de Réart (1832) then Rouffandis (1872) | Molitg-les-Bains | in process of geolocalization | |
| Dolmen de Pineda[131] | Dolmen | Reported by Jaubert de Réart (1832) then Rouffandis (1872) | Molitg-les-Bains | in process of geolocalization | |
| Dolmen de la Caixeta[132] | Dolmen | It seems that the slabs of the old dolmen were reused for a shepherd's hut. | Ria-Sirach | in process of geolocalization | |
| Dolmen de Miralles[133] | Dolmen | Seen by J. Abélanet in 1967, but not studied, difficult to access. | Conat | in process of geolocalization | |
| Dolmens de la Font d'Arques[134] | One or several dolmens | Assumed by J. Abélanet on toponymic and situational considerations. | Limite Jujols/Évol | in process of geolocalization | |
| Arca de la Portella [135] | Dolmen | Arca reported by several medieval sources. | Ayguatébia-Talau | in process of geolocalization | |
| Dolmen 1 de Roca Flavia[136] | Dolmenic chamber | Reported by Édouard Maistre to Jean Abélanet in 1971. The latter was unable to find it. | Font-Romeu-Odeillo-Via, locality Roca Flavia | in process of geolocalization | |
| Dolmen 2 de Roca Flavia[137] | Dolmenic chamber | Published in 1988 by Pierre Campmajo, but with location error. Location uncertain. | Font-Romeu-Odeillo-Via, locality Roca Flavia | in process of geolocalization | |
| Dolmen de la Forêt de Saillagouse[138] | Dolmen | Saillagouse | in process of geolocalization | ||
| Dolmen d'Err[138] | Dolmen | Err | in process of geolocalization | ||
| Dolmen de la forêt de Bolquère[138] | Dolmen | Bolquère | in process of geolocalization |
Potential sites
Jean Abélanet has discovered multiple megalithic sites using toponymy, specifically the names of localities within the Napoleonic cadastre . Abélanet offers a list of potential sites containing megaliths, determined through name association.
- La Peyra Clausa in Bélesta;[139]
- La Serra de la Martina, Saint-Arnac;[140]
- Roc de la Martina locality in Fenouillet.[141]