Allée couverte des Grèves de Frécul, Neolithic dolmen in Barbuise, France.
The Allée couverte des Grèves de Frécul is a Neolithic megalithic burial chamber built with seven upright stones, three capstones, and four entrance slabs arranged to form a passage about 4.40 meters long. The structure demonstrates the technical skill and planning required to construct such monuments.
This burial chamber dates to the Neolithic period and was originally located at its own site distinct from the larger Dolmen of Frécul nearby. Archaeological work in 1864 uncovered artifacts inside, leading to its eventual preservation and relocation to a museum courtyard.
This structure was part of a larger burial ground and shows how Neolithic communities organized their funeral practices. The careful arrangement of stones reveals the importance placed on honoring the dead in ancient times.
The structure is now housed in the courtyard of the Saint-Loup Museum in Troyes, where you can view it as part of a museum visit. Being indoors protects the ancient stones and makes them easier to examine up close.
Flint tools and a black stone axe were discovered inside during the 1864 excavation, offering clues about what people valued enough to place with their dead. These items reveal practical objects used in daily life thousands of years ago.
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