Gogottes originate from the pure sands of Fontainebleau, deposited in dune, coastal and delta environments during the Early Oligocene, approximately 33.9–28.1 million years ago. The gogottes themselves formed during cold periods of the Quaternary, when circulating silica-saturated water gradually deposited silica that crystallised in the spaces between sand grains. The purity of Fontainebleau’s sands gives these formations their white colour and smooth, even surfaces. Since the 1970s, these sandstone concretions have been known as “gogottes” or “sandstone dolls”. Louis XIV admired their unusual shapes and used numerous examples to decorate the pools and fountains in the gardens of Versailles. They can be seen around the pools of the Three Fountains Grove and the Enceladus Grove.