Les Erves dolmen, Dolmen in Sainte-Suzanne, France
Les Erves dolmen is a prehistoric burial chamber built from sandstone blocks arranged in a rectangular shape measuring roughly 4.5 meters long and 3 meters wide. The structure shows the construction methods and craftsmanship of Neolithic builders.
This burial monument was built roughly 5,000 years ago during the Neolithic period and served as a communal grave for multiple generations. Archaeological work in the 1980s uncovered numerous artifacts and prompted restoration of the site.
The site's name comes from the nearby Erve river, about three kilometres north of Sainte-Suzanne. The finds were sparse: a footed cup with incised decoration linked to the Chasséen culture, a pierced horse tooth and a Purpura lapillus sea shell. A deer antler pick lay at the bottom of a posthole.
The monument sits in a rural area and is freely accessible year-round for both individual visitors and organized groups. Wear sturdy shoes since the ground can be uneven and the surroundings offer minimal facilities.
A deer bone pick recovered during excavation was radiocarbon dated to between 4,650 and 5,580 years old. This precise dating makes this one of the best-dated megaliths in the region.
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