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.
The Pyrénées-Orientales department is located in the extreme south of France, eastern section of the Pyrenees mountain range and the . 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.
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 .
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.
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 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 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:
| Megalith | Type | Authors | Commune | Coordinates | Illustration | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| [10] or dolmen dels Apostadors[11] | dolmen | Vigo 1961 | Trilla | |||
| [12] | disappeared dolmen | Ponsich 1949 | Caixas | in process of geolocalization | ||
| ,[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 | |||
| [15] | dolmen | Jaubert de Passa 1847 (attributed to Pallary 1887 by Abélanet) | L'Albère | |||
| [16] | dolmen | Jaubert de Réart 1835 | Laroque-des-Albères | |||
| , or Dolmen 1 du Mas Llussanes[17] or Barraca del Mas Llussanés[18] | dolmen | Vidal 1921 | Tarerach | |||
| [19] | dolmen | Abélanet 1970 | Prades | |||
| [20] | dolmen | Abélanet, Cura and Padró 1975 | Eyne | |||
| [21] | dolmen | Jaubert de Réart 1832 | Llauro | |||
| [22] | dolmen | Abélanet 1970 | Taillet | |||
| [23] | dolmen | Jaubert de Réart 1832 | Taulis | |||
| Caixa de Rotllan[24] | dolmen | Renard de Saint-Malo 1837 | Arles-sur-Tech | |||
| [25] | dolmen | Devaux 1934 | Camélas | |||
| [26] | dolmen | Saint-Michel-de-Llotes | in process of geolocalization | |||
| dolmen | Bouleternère | in process of geolocalization | ||||
| [27] | destroyed dolmen | Reynès | ||||
| [28] | dolmen | Feilluns | ||||
| [29] | dolmen | Corsavy | ||||
| [30] | dolmen | Prunet-et-Belpuig | ||||
| dolmen | Prats-de-Mollo-la-Preste | |||||
| [31] | dolmen | Campoussy | ||||
| [32] | dolmen | Boule-d'Amont | ||||
| [33] | dolmen | Corneilla-de-Conflent | ||||
| [34] | dolmen | Clara-Villerach-Villerach | ||||
| [35] | dolmen | Cerbère / Portbou (Spain) | ||||
| [36] | dolmen | Bouleternère / Casefabre / Saint-Michel-de-Llotes (boundary between the three communes) | ||||
| [37] | dolmen | Cerbère | ||||
| [38] | dolmen | Molitg-les-Bains | ||||
| [39] | two tumulus | Py, Mantet, Prats-de-Mollo-la-Preste | ||||
| Collades (dolmen de les)[40] | destroyed dolmen | Amélie-les-Bains-Palalda, Maçanet de Cabrenys | ||||
| [41] | dolmen | Argelès-sur-Mer | ||||
| [42] | dolmen | Trilla | ||||
| [43] | dolmen | Cerbère | ||||
| [44] | destroyed dolmen | Camélas | ||||
| [45] | dolmen | Banyuls-sur-Mer | ||||
| [46] | dolmen | Collioure | ||||
| [47] | dolmen | Argelès-sur-Mer | ||||
| [48] | dolmen | Diario 1913 | Enveitg | |||
| [49] | two dolmens | Corsavy | ||||
| [50] | restored dolmen | Saint-Michel-de-Llotes | ||||
| [51] | destroyed dolmen | Le Boulou | ||||
| [52] | dolmen | Campoussy | ||||
| [53] | dolmen | Campoussy | ||||
| [54] | three dolmens, one ruined and one destroyed | Ria-Sirach | ||||
| [55] | dolmen | Eus (hameau of) | ||||
| [56] | dolmen | Montbolo | ||||
| [57] | dolmen | Llauro | ||||
| [58] | dolmen | Banyuls-sur-Mer | ||||
| [59] | dolmen | Rodès | ||||
| Jassa Gran (dolmen de la)[60] | composite dolmen (tumulus containing two dolmen chests) | location to be defined | Valcebollère | |||
| [61] | semi-dolmen | Arboussols | ||||
| [62] | dolmen | Clara-Villerach | ||||
| [63] | dolmen | Tarerach | ||||
| [64] | dolmen | Saint-Michel-de-Llotes | ||||
| [65] | dolmen | Saint-Michel-de-Llotes | ||||
| Molí (dolmen d'El)[66] | dolmen | Eyne | in process of geolocalization | |||
| [67] | dolmen | Bélesta | ||||
| [68] | dolmen | Mosset | ||||
| [69] | two dolmens | Ria-Sirach | ||||
| [70] | dolmen | Trévillach | in process of geolocalization | |||
| [71] | dolmen | Salses-le-Château | ||||
| [72] | dolmen | Saint-Marsal | ||||
| [73] | menhir | Espira-de-l'Agly | ||||
| [74] | broken menhir on the ground | Bélesta | ||||
| Pedra Dreta del Coll de la Dona Morta | menhir | Amélie-les-Bains-Palalda, Maçanet de Cabrenys | ||||
| [75] | menhir | Cerbère | ||||
| [76] | dolmen | Mosset | ||||
| [77] | dolmen | Castelnou | ||||
| [78] | dolmen | Molitg-les-Bains | ||||
| [79] | two dolmens, including one destroyed | Fuilla | ||||
| [80] | semi-dolmen | Boule-d'Amont | ||||
| [81] | two dolmens, cupped rocks | Serdinya | ||||
| [82] | likely menhir | Vingrau | ||||
| [83] | dolmen | Eyne | ||||
| [84] | dolmen | Ria-Sirach | ||||
| [85] | dolmen | Approximate coordinates | Saint-Michel-de-Llotes | |||
| [86] | destroyed dolmen | Montesquieu-des-Albères | ||||
| [87] | two dolmens | Caixas | ||||
| [88] | dolmen | Taulis | ||||
| [89] | dolmen | Feilluns | ||||
| [90] | dolmen | Planèzes | ||||
| [91] | dolmen | Ria-Sirach | ||||
| [92] | dolmen | Urbanya | ||||
| [93] | dolmen | Castelnou | ||||
| [94] | dolmen | Oreilla | ||||
| [95] | dolmen | Ansignan | ||||
| dolmen | Les Cluses | |||||
| [96] | dolmen | Argelès-sur-Mer | ||||
| [97] | dolmen | Molitg-les-Bains | ||||
| [98] | dolmen | Catllar, Eus | ||||
| [99] | dolmen | Fuilla | ||||
| dolmen | Fuilla | |||||
| [100] | dolmen | Rodès | ||||
| [101] | dolmen | Saint-Marsal | ||||
| [102] | dolmen | Saint-Marsal | ||||
| [103] | dolmen | Caixas / Saint-Michel-de-Llotes | ||||
| [104] | semi-dolmen | Saint-Michel-de-Llotes | ||||
| [105] | dolmen | Corneilla-de-Conflent | ||||
| [106] | dolmen | Castelnou | ||||
| [107] | dolmen | Maureillas-las-Illas | ||||
| [108] | dolmen | Maury | ||||
| [109] | dolmen | Saint-Michel-de-Llotes | ||||
| 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 | ||
| [123] | Menhir or milestone? | Attested as early as 981. | Cerbère | |||
| 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/ | in process of geolocalization | ||
| [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 | Dolmen | Err | in process of geolocalization | |||
| Dolmen de la forêt de Bolquère | Dolmen | Bolquère | in process of geolocalization |
has discovered multiple megalithic sites using toponymy, specifically the names of localities within the . Abélanet offers a list of potential sites containing megaliths, determined through name association.