Around two and a half million
years ago our early ancestor invented the first tool: a stone, which he
adapted, by chipping, into a cutting tool. During the years which followed,
man developed his working tools until, in the mesolithic period, around
8000 B.C. he vas using small flint instruments. In the neolithie period,
around 4000 B.C. he changed from being a huntsman and fisherman into a
cultivator of the land. He reared animals such as the dog, ox and sheep;
ancient bones from these animals have been discovered around this village,
Machecoul.
Pottery also appeared at this time,
as did dolmens and menhirs - around one hundred of which have been counted
in the Pays de Retz. Dolmens were collective tombs for the remains of the
villagers. Menhirs are more enigmatic in their significance; a small menhir
is to be seen in this room. At the foot of this menhir vere found the cremated
remains of a man and close by were his possessions, pottery, spoons, flint
tools.
Towards the end of the Bronze Age, around 800 B.C. salt began to be extracted
from the sea and was being dried in red clay bowls in special ovens.
Around. 600 B.C. the Celts brought
iron - stone tools were abandoned and pottery changed in shape and design.
The salt industry was in full swing.
Trade in salt was carried on with
Rome in exchange for wine, in amphora jars.
With the arrival of the Romans,
dwellings were built out of stone along with wells at St. Père and
Rezé, with aqueducts at Arthon and Touvois.
The first towns, such as Rezé,
appeared. Excavations in this area have uncovered examples of jewellery
- rings, brooches, buttons and even shoes. This civilisation disappeared
brutally with invasions and the Merovingian era is represented by many
cemeteries, including La Plaine and Machecoul. In one case in this room
note the 6th century skull with évidence of a blow to the head -
many of the skeletons of thie period show evidence of violence.
The Mousseaux Dolmen.
A scale model (1/50), has, just like
the actual dolmen, been constructed out of sandstone and local shale. Certain
areas have been covered vith transparent material to enable the layout
of the corridors and funeral chambers to be seen. This dolmen is an excellent
example of the collective tombs erected during the neolithic era (3500
- 1800 B.C.). There are two main corridors, leading to lateral chambers.
It vas excavated in 1840 by Verger who discovered a large quantity of broken
pottery, animal's teeth and a flint axe. In 1976 it was restored and further
excavated, when more vases were discovered. The monument is being restored
after a campaign led by the «Amis du Pays de Retz», our association.
