Coste-Rouge dolmen

About

The Dolmen de Coste-Rouge is a dolmen located in the commune of Soumont, in the department of Hérault.

History: The dolmen has been classified as historical monuments since 1900. The dolmen is very famous since the end of the 19th century because of its general appearance and its photograph illustrates many postcards and tourist or specialized works.

Description: The dolmen is built on a circular terrace, always visible, overlooking a vast panorama. It is oriented north-north-east/south-south-west with an opening to the south. The tumulus is bounded by a double trimming. It is about 10 m in diameter and is crossed by an access corridor to the dolmen. The chamber is bounded by four orthostats (two side supports, a bedside slab and a closing slab) drawing an almost square plane (1.80 m by 1.60 m). All slabs are in triasic sandstone. The closing slab has the peculiarity of having an opening in "oven door" (1.75 m long by 1.60 m wide and 0.50 m high), oriented according to the winter solstice. The western orthostate does not support the table but it extends to the north by an outgrowth...