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Lost Secrets - an adventure during Neolithic times

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<< Our Photo Pages >> Pierre des Druides (Affieux) - Burial Chamber or Dolmen in France in Limousin:Corrèze (19)

Submitted by TheCaptain on Saturday, 16 April 2005  Page Views: 4235

Neolithic and Bronze AgeSite Name: Pierre des Druides (Affieux)
Country: France Département: Limousin:Corrèze (19) Type: Burial Chamber or Dolmen
Nearest Town: Brive-la-Gailliard  Nearest Village: Affieux
Latitude: 45.506180N  Longitude: 1.808230E
Condition:
5Perfect
4Almost Perfect
3Reasonable but with some damage
2Ruined but still recognisable as an ancient site
1Pretty much destroyed, possibly visible as crop marks
0No data.
-1Completely destroyed
no data Ambience:
5Superb
4Good
3Ordinary
2Not Good
1Awful
0No data.
no data Access:
5Can be driven to, probably with disabled access
4Short walk on a footpath
3Requiring a bit more of a walk
2A long walk
1In the middle of nowhere, a nightmare to find
0No data.
3 Accuracy:
5co-ordinates taken by GPS or official recorded co-ordinates
4co-ordinates scaled from a detailed map
3co-ordinates scaled from a bad map
2co-ordinates of the nearest village
1co-ordinates of the nearest town
0no data
4

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jpournelle visited on 13th Jul 2017 - their rating: Cond: 3 Amb: 5 Access: 2 The "Druids' Stone" ("La Pierre des Druids") typically named by local legend, is in fact a mostly standing dolmen at Puy Ponteu (Ponteu summit) due south of Treignac. It is aligned along the summer solstice meridian with a half-panoramic view to other nearby summits. The hiking trail is well-marked from Treignac, where a trail map is available from the Tourist Information Center on the Place d' la Republic. There are also marked trails to the summit from Allogne (to the east) and La Peuch (southwest). Access from Affieux itself is also possible, but more difficult. The location source linked below is incorrect: that is a different site. The Panorama image linked below is correct, but out-of-date: since then, the tourism board has placed explanatory placards and scouts have cleaned up the site and cleared the field of view visible from the dolmen.

Pierre des Druides (Affieux)
Pierre des Druides (Affieux) submitted by jpournelle : Site in Limousin:Corrèze (19) France (Vote or comment on this photo)
A curiously balanced rock in the forests of the community of Affieux to the south of Treignac in Corrèze. It is unsure whether this is the partial remains of a collapsed dolmen, or a purely natural rock formation.

The top of the granite rock has a couple of weathered basins, which according to folklore were used in druidic sacrificial rituals.

See also T4T35.fr
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Pierre des Druides (Affieux)
Pierre des Druides (Affieux) submitted by jpournelle : Site in Limousin:Corrèze (19) France (1 comment - Vote or comment on this photo)

Pierre des Druides (Affieux)
Pierre des Druides (Affieux) submitted by jpournelle (1 comment - Vote or comment on this photo)

Pierre des Druides (Affieux)
Pierre des Druides (Affieux) submitted by jpournelle (1 comment - Vote or comment on this photo)

Pierre des Druides (Affieux)
Pierre des Druides (Affieux) submitted by jpournelle (1 comment - Vote or comment on this photo)

Pierre des Druides (Affieux)
Pierre des Druides (Affieux) submitted by jpournelle (1 comment)

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"Pierre des Druides (Affieux)" | Login/Create an Account | 2 News and Comments
  
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Re: Pierre des Druides (Affieux) by jpournelle on Monday, 24 July 2017
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The "Druids' Stone" ("La Pierre des Druids") typically named by local legend, is in fact a partially collapsed dolmen at Puy Pantout (Pantout Summit), due south of Treignac. Far from being a mere "rock outcrop," like Dolmen dit La Maison du Loup, the site, which rests at the terminus of a paved causeway (the final footpath up the hill - see pic), comprises a capstone, (typically) aligned along the summer solstice meridian, resting atop a chamber composed of four other massive stones, placed for a half-panoramic view to other nearby peaks. That the stone was imported is apparent while hiking up the track: no other granite cobbles or outcrops are visible anywhere off the path. Further, the natural fracture lines of the placed stones and the capstone do not align in either their horizontal or vertical planes, demonstrating that they were placed in position (rather than being exposed by weathering). Finally, there is no other grey granite strata visible anywhere else on the summit or along the many logging roads that expose bedrock right up to it.

The "druid" legend stems from two double-hand-sized querns carved into the capstone (see pic). These -- posited in local lore to be the offering table for blood sacrifice -- were likely used for grinding chestnuts or white acorns, both native to these upland copses. In summary, this site is typical of a substantial burial chamber, long since looted and re-used as a meeting place. See pic above for the full text and sources; I've translated the summary section here:
"The Pierre des Druides is certainly a megalith in the form of a dolmen, located in a remote place but visible from a distance, like a signal (until the 1960s the Puy Pantout was unforested, and covered with moors). The cavity one can enter beneath the supports could have served as a sepulture chamber... The inclination and the setting of the capstone indicates a monument connected to the cult of the sun. The presence of the basins, their aspect and disposition, the orientation of the table, and the situation of the whole, suggests their placement to hold or capture sacred water or blood from sacrifices."

The hiking trail is well-marked from Treignac, where a trail map is available from the Tourist Information Center on the Place de la Republic. It is a 3-hour round trip by foot from town, but it is possible to drive paved roads up to a trail head. Thereafter 4WD or mountain bikes can get you most of the way, but you will have to summit on foot. There are also marked trails to the summit from Allogne (to the east) and La Peuch (southwest). Access from Affieux itself is also possible, but more difficult.

The linked "Location Source" above is incorrect: that is a different site. The linked Panorama image is correct, but out-of-date: since then, the tourism board has placed explanatory placards (see pic) and scouts have cleaned up the site and cleared the field of view visible from the dolmen.
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Re: Pierre des Druides (Affieux) by jpournelle on Monday, 24 July 2017
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For full info and trail maps, see:
"La Pierre des Druides Dans les bois" on http://www.correze.net, the regional tourism portal.
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