Unearthed during city expansion, the Menhir d’Asnières Stone stands as a silent witness to a forgotten era. This isn’t just any stone. It’s a piece of history relocated to the Square du Maréchal Leclerc, right behind the town hall in Asnières-sur-Seine.
Originally, the Menhir d’Asnières Stone marked a collective burial site. Imagine that. Around 3500 years ago, during the Neolithic period, this stone was the centerpiece of a tomb. It was surrounded by individual cists each holding a skeleton. These cists were like stone boxes for the deceased.
The story of the Menhir d’Asnières Stone’s discovery is fascinating. In 1933, workers stumbled upon it during the expansion of the town hall. The stone was found nearly three meters deep. It was part of a burial site covered by a tumulus a mound of earth and stone.
Picture this: twelve individual cists arranged around a sandstone menhir. The menhir itself is quite impressive. It stands over two meters tall. Its width varies from two meters at the base to one point four meters at the top.
Each cist contained a skeleton in a flexed position. Their heads pointed west. Above them was another layer of flagstones with yet another skeleton. The whole structure was buried under a tumulus of ferruginous sand. This special sand may have been transported from Saint-Cloud six kilometers away.
What about grave goods? Surprisingly few were found. Only three flint scrapers were recovered. The skeletons and artifacts were initially kept at the town hall. Sadly, they were later discarded.
After its discovery, the Menhir d’Asnières Stone was re-erected in the square in 1947 or 1948. It became a stele for a monument commemorating the liberation of Paris. A medallion of Maréchal Leclerc was added. Some might say this was a resourceful reuse of an ancient artifact.
The base of the Menhir d’Asnières Stone incorporates stones from the original sepulture. The stone weighs around five tons. Its altitude is 101 meters. It is not just a stone, it’s a link to our ancient ancestors. The Menhir d’Asnières Stone serves as a reminder of the deep history beneath our feet. It connects us to the Neolithic people who once lived and died here.
So, next time you pass by the Menhir d’Asnières Stone take a moment. Consider the weight of history it carries. Think about the people whose remains once lay beneath it. This seemingly simple stone tells a profound story of life death and remembrance.