Alignement de la Petite Pierre

About

The alignment of the Petite Pierre is a megalithic alignment located in Avrillé, in the French department of Vendée.

History: In 1840 Léon Audé mentioned only a menhir at the place called La Pierre. In 1862, Abbé Ferdinand Baudry mentioned a second block of 2.50 m in length lying north of the first, which he identified as a second menhir. A menhir was listed as historical monuments in 1889. In 1933, Marcel Baudouin mentioned two twin menhirs whom he named "the Stone Group". The site underwent two excavations in 1991 and 1992. A third menhir was discovered during these excavations.

Description: This three-menhir alignment belongs itself to a set of several megaliths including the three lines of Fourgon Wood located about 900 m further east. All these monuments were erected on a ridge line between 35 m and 50 m above sea level. The alignment consists of a central menhir and two lateral menhirs of the same size arranged on a north-west/south-east axis. The central menhir is 5.35 m high above the ground and is estimated to weigh 35 t. The two side menhirs, found lying...