The megalithic monuments of Carnac and Locmariaquer; their purpose and age

STACK
ANNEX

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098

866

THE

EGALITHIC
;» MONUMENTS

2 Hi Carnac and Locmariaquer :

7 Ml THEIR PURPOSE AND AGE.

I

With
FIVE VIEWS AND ONE MAP.

By
Z. LE ROUZIC,

Officier de V Instruction pubJique, Member of the
Societe Polymathique du Morbihan.

Translated by

alifornia w. m. tapp. ll. d.,f.s.a.

^ional

3ility

THE

MEGALITHIC
MONUMENTS

OF

CARNAC

AND

LOCMARIAQUER :

THEIR PURPOSE AND AGE

WITH

FIVE VIEWS AND ONE MAP.

BY

Z. LE ROUZIC.

Officier de l'Instrnction puhlique. Member
of the Societe Polymathiqiie du Morbihan.

Visitors can purchase at the Musee J. Milne or
at the house of Monsieur Z. Le Rouzic at Kerdol-
men, close to the tumulus of St. Michel at Carnac,
a large selection of photographs and picture post
cards of the monuments of St. Anne-Auray, Loc-
mariaquer, La Trinite, Carnac, Plouharnel, Erde-
ven^ Etel, Quiberon and Belle-Ile-en-Mer.

The photographs are of various sizes, are either
m,ounted singly or in albums, and are for sale at
very reasonable prices.

There are similarly, on sale, reproductions in
plaster of the various megalithic monuments of
the district. These imitate the granite, and are
of a convenient size.

PREFACE.

The accompanying translation of M. Z. Le Rouzic's
fascinating guide to the MegaHthic Monuments of Carnac
and Locmariaquer has been undertaken in the interests of
EngHsh-speaking visitors, who may not be able, or may
not care, to read the original in French.

The translation closely follows Monsieur Lc Rouzic's work,
no attempt being made to amplify or comment on the views
therein expressed, and it is hoped it may prove of interest
and supply a want.

W. M. TAPP, LL.D., F.S.A.

July, 1908.

2224278

The

MEGALITH I C MONUMENTS

OF

CARNAC & LOCMARIAQUjER

Their Purpose.
Their Age.

FIRST PART.

The reception given to my small Guide Book
(<( Carnac and its Monuments ») published in 1897,
and the importance which has during the past few
years been attached to prehistoric research, encourage
me to expand and develop the ideas expressed therein,
and to publish others that are new on the megalithic
monuments of this district.

In this work, which is not intended for scientists,
I propose to set forth briefly the facts taught by
archaeological science as to the antiquity of man.

This much is certain, his earliest existence is
evidenced by the implements which he employed,
and his first weapons and tools were Oi stone.

In 1847 M. Boucher de Perthes made known to
the scientific world that the alluvium of the Somme
contained Hints which had certainly been worked by

man. This alluvium dated back to an epoch very
remote, and these worked flints showed undeniably
man's existence at that epoch ; the conclusions, how-
ever, of M. Boucher de Perthes were long disputed,
but after an impartial examination all doubt has been
removed, and to-day they arc universally admitted.

In 1867 M. I'Abbe Bourgeois showed at the Paris
International Congress of Prehistoric Archaeology,
some split flints discovered at Thenay (Loir-et-Cher),
in tertiary strata (middle, lower).

In 1877 M. Rames showed other flints found in
tertiary strata at Puy-Courny (Cantal).

The split flints found in the tertiary strata, not
being certainly the work of man, have always caused
discussion, and Avill continue to do so. Personally,
I am convinced that the Chellean implements (see
page 7) are not the first used by the so-called primi-
tive man, and that he must have had a precursor
who lived at the time of the formation of the tertiary
strata. The intentional cutting of the flint specimens
of that period which I have been able to examine,
however, appears to me doubtful.

After the publication of the astonishing conclusions
of M. Boucher de Perthes, researches were made in
every direction, and Avere quickly followed by fresh
discoveries ; with this accumulation of material a
satisfactory chronological classification became neces-
sary.

In 1 836 M. Thomsen established in Denmark the
sucession of three ages, viz, those of stone, of bronze,
and of iron. But this classification, which is true for
some districts, cannot be accepted as chronologically
infallible, because it is difficult to admit that the
same rale of progress Avas made in different countries
at the same time, especially in the early ages.

In 1869 the late M. G. de Mortillet laid down a
classification of prehistoric limes based on their
industrial products. This classification, since com-
pleted and improved, has been generally accepted.

TEMPS

AGES

p£riooes

Merovingionne

^POQUES

Wabenienne
Waben (Pasde-Calais)

Romaino

Charapdolienne
Champdolen (Seine-et-Marne)

du Fer

Lugdunionne
Lyon (Ilh6ne)

Galatienne

lieuvraysienne
Mont-Beuvray (Nievre)

Marnienne
Departemont de la Marne

Hallslatienne
Hallstatt (Haute-Aulriche)

Larnaudienne
Larnaud (Jura)

du Bronze

Tzisanienne

I Morgienno

[ Morges, canton de Vaud (Suisse)

Neolithique

Robenhausienne
Robenhausen (Zurik)

Tardenvisienne
Fore-en-Tardenois (Aisne)

Tourassienne
I La Tourasse (H''-G°' j anc.ihatus

Magdalenienne
La Madeleine (Dordogne)

de

la Pierre \ Paleolitliique

Solutreenne
Solutro (Saone-et-Loirel

Mousterienne
Le Moustier i Dordogne)

Acheuleenne
Saint-Acheul (Somme)

Chelleenno
Chelles (Seine-ot Marne)

Eolithique

Puy-("ournienne
Puy Courny (Cantal)

Thenaysienne
Thenay (Loir-et Cher)

Le Geant de Kerdcrf a Carnac.
8

We give the most recent from k Le Prehistorique »
by G. and A. de Mortillet, 3rd edition, Paris, igoo.
(See page 7).

This theoretical classification has rendered an
immense service to prehistoric archaeology, but it is
certain that the earliest type of implement Avhich man
used was used also through subsequent epochs ; for
instance, the Chellean hatchet was still used with
the Mousterian type, and the Mousterian with the
Solutrean type. Thus by adopting a purely morpho-
logical classification we arrive at an interesting, but
scarcely an accurate, conclusion. To remedy this
defect two learned palaeontologists, MM. d'Ault du
Mesnil and Dr. Capitan, have adopted at the School
of Anthropology of Paris a stratigraphic classification
of the greatest exactitude.

From this short introduction we gather that for a
vast period of time man evidenced his existence by
work done exclusively Avith implements of stone.
This is called the Stone Age, and is divided into
three periods : —

I. Eolithic, i.e., the Earliest Stone Age — stone
simply split.

3. Palfeolithic, or Old Stone Age — stone flaked or
worked .

3. Neolithic, or New Stone Age — stone polished.

The Eolithic or split stones of the earliest period,
discovered in the tertiary strata, are of very doubtful
authenticity, and are the subject of much discussion.
Not so the Pala?olithic, or llaked, or Avorked stones, of
the second period, discovered at the bottom of the
quaternary strata with the remains of extinct or
migrated animals. These flaked stones are divided
into different types, of which the most ancient is the
Chellean type, of Chelles (Seine-et-Marne), having
more or less the shape of an almond, dressed on its
two faces, but differing very much in form, shape,
and finish. This type was developed during the
earlier quaternary period in a climate mild and

damp, (luring which the Elephas antiquus and the
Rhinoceros Merkii existed in this district. Man
himself lived on the plateaux and in the valleys.

The Magdalenian type, from the Madeleine (Dor-
dogne), is especially characterised by engravings and
carvings on bone, ivory and horn, showing an
advanced stage of art.

Coincident with the deterioration of the Stone Age
was the appearance of several new implements ;
these latter were developed during the later quater-
nary period with a climate cold and dry, during which
the Elephas primigenius and the Rhitioceros Ticho-
rhinus existed. Man himself lived in caves and wore
clothes made of skins, and had ornaments made
especially of shells.

Besides the implements which we have mentioned
man had a good many others during the Chellean
epoch, such as blades and scrapers, and, later on,
saws, rakes, scrapers, doubled-edged and notched
burins or graving tools, awls, etc. This Pala?olithic
industry has been very little studied in Brittany,
and has not yet been thought of in Morbihan.

Fossilized bones of the races of the quaternary
period have been found, of which the best known are
the skulls of Ganstadt, Neanderthal, Tilbury, Brux
Spy Podbaba, Eguisheim and Laugcrie Basse.

From a study of these the race appears to have
been rather under the average height, of remarkable
strength, with very strongly developed muscles, a
fairly broad head, long and flat, with protruding
occiputs and a very receding forehead. Statuettes of
women discovered in the Grotto of Prassempouy
(Landes) included what is known as the (( Hottentot
Venus, » satirically so-called owing to its ugliness,
and have enabled us to compare the Magdalenian
race with that of the present day Hotte-ntots.

From the cold, dry climate of the reindeer period
we arrive Ity transition at our present climate.
Gertain of the animals which existed in our district

have migralod. otliors liavc developed ; some have
been domesticated by man, such as the dog, the ox,
the liorse. I he sheep, the goat ; at this epoch a new
implement made its appearance — the polished axe.
Thus appears the Neolilhic or New Stone Age.
Earlbenware also appeared, but already so perfect
that the art had evidently been pracHsed earlier.
Man makes himself huts, and on the lakes pile-
dwellings ; he cultivates corn and flax and weaves
<doth. From a hunter he becomes a shepherd and a
husbandman. His implements, Aveapons and tools
change and increase in number ; the dressed flint
continues, the axe, the gouge and the hammer are
polished and arc provided with handles. Manu-
factories for the working of different hard and soft
rocks ajipear and their produce is sent into all parts.
With this new industry we find certain indications
of a religion in the care which is taken of the dead.
Special chambers are prepared for their bodies, and
with the corpses are laid their weapons, jewels, and
amulets ; alongside, but in less important sepulchres,
the slaves and servants are placed. hi certain
districts these sepulchral chambers are dug in the
earth, in others they are built above ground with
detached blocks of stone and then covered with earth
and stone, thus forming a tumulus. The monuments
being burial-places, the human bones of this period
are very numerous. The races are already very much
mixed ; they practised trepanning, and . certain
indications lead us to believe that they were cannibals.
There were undoubtedly migrations but the stone
industry was developed on the spot and was continued
in Gaul until at least i5oo b.c. It was replaced
first by the use of copper, then by the use of bronze
in making axes. Bronze makes its appearance
about this time in the shape of axes which were
at first flat. These gradually came to be varied by
means of raised edges, heels, wings and sockets.
Other forms of worked bronze were swords, brooches,
arrowheads, bracelets, necklaces, helmets and shields.

Stone instruments arc stil! made and become wonder-
fully finished and elegant in shape. The worship of
the dead now^ becomes general ; the greater part of
the interments are cinerary ; the sepulchral chambers
attain great proportions, some of them having their
walls ornemented with mystical signs, and in certain
districts human representations appear. The weapons
and implements of stone of the dead are no longer
utilitarian but votive objects ; pottery even attains
a sacred character.

Iron was used in Gaul towards the fifth century b.c.
for manufacturing swords copied at first from those
of bronze. The latter metal remained in use for
defensive weapons and objects of luxury and orna-
ment. It was at this time that Marseilles was
founded by the Phoenicians and the Gauls settled in
the north of Italy. It was also' the time of the
chariot-sepulture in Champagne called Marnienne
(fourth century, b.c). It was, to sum up, the dawn
of our history.

SECOND PART.

The
MEGALITHIC MONUMENTS

DEFINITIONS.

The Megalithic or enormous stone monuments of
Carnac and Locmariaquei- are composed of nine
characteristic types or kinds : —

1 . Memiir : — In Breton « men » = stone,
(( hir » = long. The menhir is an unfashioned
stone placed vertically, and is found isolated or in
groups ; it is also sometimes called « Peulven. »
Example : The Giant of Kerderf at Carnac.

2. Alignments : — An alignment is a group of
menhirs placed in one or several lines. Example :
Alignments of Carnac and of Mcnec.

3. Lech : — The lech is a cut or dressed menhir,
usually with crosses engraved on its sides. Example :
The Lechs of the Village of Plouharnel.

/i. Cromlech : — In Breton (( crom » = circle
(( lech )) = place. The cromlech is a group of
menhirs placed in a circle. If they are placed in a
square it is then called a quadrilateral. Example :
Cromlech of Menec and the Quadrilateral of Crucuno.

5. Dolmen :— In Breton « dol » = table, « men » =
stone. The dolmen is a monument in the form of a

hahitation composed of several vertical menhirs called
supports, and forming one or several chambers,
usually approached by a gallery ; the whole is covered
by one or several stones of very large size called
tables. Example : Dolmen of the Merchants Loc-
mariaquer.

There are several kinds of dolmens : —

1. The simple dolmen. Example : The Dolmen
of Moustoir.

2. The dolmen with gallery. Example : The
Dolmen of Mane Kerioiied.

3. The dolmen with a chamber alongside.
Example : The Dolmen of Keriaval.

/j. Th» dolmen paved with big flagstones.
Example : The Dolmen of the Madeleine.

5. The simple dolmen Avhose supports are made of
stones without the use of mortar or of menhirs
lying on the ground. — Example : The Dolrwens
of St. Michel. Some dolmens do not appear to
have ever had a table of stone, and Avere
probably covered with wood, such as Mane-
Bresil at Carnac, Moulin des Oics (Mill of the
Geese), Coet-Kersut at Crach, etc.

6. Allee Couverte : — (the covered way). The
covered Avay is composed of two parallel lines of
menhirs, covered with tables of stone. Example :
The Covered Way of the Pierres-Plates (flat stones).

7. Ctst-Ven : — The cist-ven (in Breton « cist » =
tomb, « ven » = stone, in English « stone-cist ») is
composed of flat stones forming a chamber which is
closed and smaller than the dolmens. Example : The
Stone-Cists at the Musee J. Milne.

8. Galcai. : — The galgal is an agglomeration of
little stones forming an artificial mound.- — Example :
The Galgal of Gavrinis.

9. Tumulus : — The tumulus is a mass of earth
forming an artificial mound. There are two kinds of

i4

tuimili : tlie oblong, also called (( barrow » ; example :
The Tumulus of St. Michel ; ami the circular lumulus ;
example : The Tumulus of Kcrcado.

Several tumuli are, or have been, surrounded by
a cromlech or by a quadrilateral. Example : The
Tumulus of Kerlescan. The tumuli or galgals of this
district cover dolmens, covered ways, stone-cists
and sometimes several of these monuments together.
Example : Mane Kerioned and the Tumulus of
Moustcir.

The bare dolmens and covered ways of this district
have all been, covered originally by tumuli or by
galgals. The weather and the need of the husband-
man who required earth to spread on his field are the
causes of their now being uncovered.

The menhirs, alignments, and cromlechs have
always been visible. The lechs and certain of the
stone-cists are relatively recent.

DESCRIPTION.

The isolated menhir is without doubt the most
ancient of the Megalithic Monuments, since it is the
most simple. The most important is Men-er-Groach,
near the town of Locmariacpicr, at the present time
unhappily fallen and broken into five pieces, of which
four are still in situ, and measure exactly 20m /io.
Its weight, calculated according to its volume and
den«;ity, equals some 36o tons.

The date and the causes of its fall are unknown.
M. de Robicn, President of the Parlement de Bretagne,
made a drawing of it in 1727 in the position which
it still maintains.

Next in importance is tlie Menhir of Manio in the
Commune of Carnac, measuring 5m So in height.

Others are the Menhir of Kerlagat, 2m 90 in height ;
the Menhir of Kerlhuir, 4ni 20 in height : the Menhir
of the town, 2m 70 in height ; the Menhir of Men-

i5

Melen in the Commune of Saint Philibert, 2m 60
in height ; the Menhir Lann-er-Menhir d'Erdeven,
3m ko in height ; the Menhir of Conguel in the
Commune of Quiberon, 5m 20 in height ; the Menhir
of Saint-Cado, measuring 5m 4o in height.

The most important alignments are those, of
Carnac. They take an easterly direction for 8,900
metres and comprise 2,81 3 menhirs from the village
of Menec tO' the end of Kerlescan or Menec-Vihan
(Petit-Menec). At the end of this group the align-
ments take a north-easterly direction of 4i degrees.
Very clear traces of alignments are to be found
behind the Estate du Lac, at the places called
Er-Mareu, Mane-er-Lac, and at the bottom of the
field. These menhirs, the greater part of which are
lying on the ground, indicate that the alignments
stretched to the River Crache. There is no trace of
any alignment on the other side of the river.

These alignments are divided into three distinct
groups : —

I. The Field of Menec, 960 metres to the noTth of
the village of Carnac, has a cromlech, half of
which is on one side of the general line of the
alignments. Its length is 1,167 nietres and its
average width 100 metres. It contains 1,169
menhirs, of which 70 are in the cromlech, and
1,099 '^^^' placed in eleven lines, taking an east
by north-east direction of 70 degrees. The
highest of these menhirs measures Ix metres, the
smallest about 60cm. To the south and north
of these alignments may be found a few fallen
menhirs which originally formed part no doubt
of lines taking these directions. At the north-
west may be found two other fallen menhirs.
At the end of this group a few menhirs, formerly
fenced in, seem to indicate that this was the ,
site of a second cromlech.

The alignments are broken for a length of 34o
metres from the end of Menec to Kermario.

16

u

CJ

<

17

2. The Field of Kermario is 1,120 metres long
and has an average width of loi metres, con-
tains 982 menhirs, placed in ten lines taking a
north-easterly direction of 57 degrees.

The largest menhir of this group has fallen
and is 6m 42 in length, the smallest is about
5ocm. Kermario without doubt formerly pos-
sessed a cromlech to the Avest of the alignments,
l)ut there remains no trace of it to-day. South
of these menhirs, facing the farm of la Petite-
Metairie, are found three standing menhirs
indicating a lino which has taken a southerly
direction ; one dolmen Avith a gallery is found
close to and south of these lines. To the north
there is a group of fallen menhirs, and to the
north-west a few large menhirs also fallen ;
close to the group of small menhirs Avhich form
the end of the field of Kermario, on the site
called the Manio, is found another much loftier
menhir which has not the same orientation as
those of the alignments. The eminence on
which this stands undoubtedly encloses several
tombs and is anterior in date fO' the alignments.

The alignments are again broken betAveen the
end of Kermario and the beginning of Kerlescan
for a length of SqS metres.

3. The Field of Kerlescan possesses at the Avest a
square cromlech with rounded corners, the north
portion of which is formed by a long tumulus,
at the Avestern end of Avhich is a menhir four
metres high. This field is 880 metres long and
1 39 wide, the alignments behind the village
being broken for 200 metres. In the village a
great number of menhirs may be seen in
enclosures. This field contains 579 menhirs, of
Avhich 39 are in the cromlech and 5/io in i3
lines taking an easterly direction of 95 degrees.
The highest menhir in this field is four metres
in height, the smallest aJjout om 80. At the

iiorlh end df lliis fii-ld are /j3 menhirs of which
7 arc still standing, forming an enormous
cromlech.

There is also norlh of these alignnKMits a
tumulus having- a cromlech and containing a
closed gallery of which the entrance was formed
by a circular hole made in one of the stones sup-
porting the roof, and the gallery itself is separa-
ted from the cromlech by two stone suj^ports
having their sides hewn to form a circular pas-
sage. Unforlunalcly there only remain of this
curious monument a few stone supports and a
top slab.
These three liclds of menhirs arc absolutely distinct
from each other, having each a separate orientation.
It would not be surprising if the field of alignments
of St. Barbc, Commune de Plouharnel (whoso end is
closed by a cromlech, situated on a hill at the
base of which ran formerly a stream now filled
up by sand) were continued in another field, the
remains of which may be seen behind the villages of
Kcrbachicho and Kerderf ; this latter field probably
stretched to Mencc, thus forming a long line of men-
hirs from the River St. Barbe to the River Crache, a
distance of mort^ than S kilometres.

These alignments are far from complete and are
evidently the remains of one or several fields of
menhirs of much greater extent.

There are still several traces of small alignments
in the Commune of Carnac, namely : —

1. In the waste lands of Kerlarm, to the north of
Menec, Section N of Carnac, Nos 781 and 801
of the Survey Register, several small fallen
menhirs, placed in lines.

2. In the jvasfe lands of Nignol where the roads
branch off to Coet-a-Tous and to Moustoir,
Section N of Carnac, Nos. 4o3 and kok of the
Survey Register, several small fallen menhirs,
placed in lines.

19

3. In the waste lands of Keriaval, between the
dolmen and the village of that name, Section E
of Carnac, Nos. 33o and 33 1 of the Survey
Register, several menhirs both fallen and
standing, placed in lines.

4. In the waste lands to the north of Hanhon,
Section A of Carnac, Nos. 276 and 278 of the
Survey Register, several small fallen menhirs,,
placed in lines. ;

5. In the waste lands to the north of Coet-a-
Tous, Section D of Carnac, Nos. 260 and 25i of
the Survey Register, several small menhirs both
fallen and standing, placed in lines.

6. In the waste lands to the north-east of Clud-
er-Yer, Section E of Carnac, Nos. 45i and fib~
of the Survey Register, eight fallen menhirs,
placed in a line to the west of which is found a
series of little sepulchres.

The alignments of Kerzehro, Commune d'Erdeven,
are composed of 1,129 nienhirs, placed for the
greater part in ten lines, on the west crossed by La
Route de Grande Commimication N°. 20. They
extend to a length of 2,io5 metres and a Avidth of 64
metres. One line composed of 23 menhirs, two of
which exceed 6 metres in height, and six fragmentary
menhirs stretch towards tlie north at right angles to
the alignments themselves and arc probably the
remains of an enormous cromlech. A menhir among
a small group, and lying tO' the west of the road, is
capped. These alignments stretched originally east-
north-east toi Mane-Bras where the most splendid
dolmens are to be found. They turn off there to the
cast-south-east. Finally, several menhirs (some of
them standing upright) arc found forming two lines,
the one running from north to south, the other from
west tO' east, and showing the remains of a square
enclosure or cromlech ; towards the end the traces of
these alignments, though visil)le, become confused.

The alignments of St. Barbe, Commune of Plou-

liariicl, are composed of about 5o menhirs, nearly all
fallen, but many more are to be found buried in the
sand ; these alignments are bounded on the west by a
cromlceh facing an east-south-easterly direction.

The alignments of St. Pierre Quiberon, or du
Moulin, are composed of vtk menhirs placed in five
lines in an cast-south-easterly direction, stretching
away to the sAvamps close to the sea. At loo metres
south-east of the starting point of these alignments
are found the remains of a cromlech of 25 menhirs
and this imdoubt(dl\ foimcd part of the whole mo-
nument.

Olhcr alignments of mentiirs are to be found in the
same district, but they are usually in a single line,
notably at Vieux-Moulin, near the station of Plou-
harncl ; at Kerascouet, Commune d'Erdeven ; at the
Lac, at Hanhon, at Men-Pleurit, at Crifol. Commmie
of Carnac ; at Saint Cado, Commune of Ploemel.
Also at Kerderf. Commune of Carnac, there are two
menhirs, one of which is a very fine example, and
measures 5 metres in height, which seem tO' have
been part of a series of alignments, traces of which
arc found again north of the village of Kerbachiche,
Commune of Plouharnel.

The Icchs are of a much more recent origin than
the other megalithic monuments ; some of them are
mistaken for Roman milestones ; many of them have
on their summit a square hole meant to receive the
base of a cross ; others carry on their faces graven
crosses. The village of Plouharnel possesses two
lechs. one near and to the south of the church, the
other to the north of the road from Plouharnel to
Carnac and east of the smithy. At Carnac a splendid
lech lies at the cross roads in the village of Coet-
Cougam. At Erdeven there are twO' near the
cemetery. In fact, lechs are to be found in every
communiv of the district, more especially near old
churches.

The principal cromlechs are those of the alignments
of Menee, Kerlescan, St. Barbe and St. Pierre-

Quiberon ; these from part of the alignments. But
there are others at Crucuny and Kerlescan, Commune
of Carnac, Crucuno and at Gohquer, Commune of
Plouliarnel (these two last are square), at Er-lannie
and rile aux Moines in the gulf of Morbihan, which
are isolated.

Dolmens with menhirs ar© the monuments most
usually found at Morbihan ; they are very much
though never quite alike ; they are composed of blocks
of stone called supports, placed upright, and flat slabs
placed horizontally on these supports, thus forming
one or several chambers with an entrance which is
usually approached by a gallery. The door is placed
to face an imaginary line drawn between the rising
and setting of the sun at Midsummer. These dolmens
are provided with floors made wilh Hat stones
frequently covered with shingle. Many of these floors
are embellished with signs, the meanings of which
have not yet been discovered. Dr. Letourneau has
compared some of these signs with certain letters of
the most ancient alphabets. M. A. de Mortillet has
compared others, again, with certain signs engraven
on rocks in Norway, to w^hich they have a certain
resemblance.

It is evident that these signs have a mystical
character, of Avhich the meaning has been lost, and
when w^e compare (as has been so ably done by M. Ch.
Keller) certain signs of these covered ways with
certain designs on the vases of Mycenae, we are
struck by their resemblance. Remembering the
successive transformations to be found on the Dolmen
of Collogues, Department of Gard, and in the
sculptures of the grottoes of the valley of Petit Morin,
Department of Marne, we may compare them also to
the menhir statues discovered in Aveyron, and also
to the Gallic Mercury of Lezoux as well as tO' the
Christian Saints.

The principal dolmens of the district arc : —

La table des Marchands ; Mane Rutual ; Mane

Lud ; Kcrvcresse ^\ilh signs ; Kerlud and St. Pierre
in llie Commune of Locmariaquer ; de Kcrhan with
cupules ; Kermanr ; Mane Kernaplaye and Man«'>
Han ; Commune of St. Philihcrt. De Kcrdro-Vihan ;
Kcrmarqucr with a chamber and Kervilor, Commune
de la Trinite ; de la Madeleine ; Roch-Feutet Avith
cupules ; Mane-Ihisil ; Kcrmario ; Kergo ; Clud-cr-Yer
and Keriaval with lateral chambers ; Man«''-Kerioned
with three mciiuments, of which one has engraved
signs, in the Commune of Carnac. De Kergavat
Rondossec with three monuments of which one has
a chamber ; Runesto ; Mane-Remor ; Cohquer and
Crucuno, Commune of Plouharncl ; de Roche-er-Aude,
Commune of St. Pierre Quiberon ;'de Mane-Groh with
four lateral chambers ; Mane-Rras with four dolmens
and Ty-er-Mane. Commune of Erdeven ; dc Kerhuen ;
Moulin des Oies ; Kerlutu, Commune de Relz ; de
Mene-er-Loch with signs and Locqueltas with lateral
chambers, Commune of Mendon ; de Mane Rogat,
C^ommune of Ploemel ; de Kervin Rrigitte ; Mane
Kerhuerin ; Kerzut ; Parc-Guren with signs, Com-
mune of Crach.

The covered w ays are rare ; some of them are
winding. The most important are those called
Pierres-Plates Avith sculptin-ed signs and lateral cham-
bers, Commune of Locmariaquer ; Du Rocher with its
tumulus. Commune of Plougoumelen ; Luffang Avilh
signs ; Kerentrech, Commune of Crach ; Mane-
Roullarde, Commune of La Trinite ; Mane-er-Loh
(Commune of Mendon.

All these monuments, dolmens and covered ways
were most certainly hidden by tumidi in ancient times
and to-day are really only the framework of now
ruined monuments.

The stone-cists are quite common in our soil,
especially near dolmens and covered ways, but their
small size and their scanty contents have caused
them to be neglected. Some may be found intact in
the North, also close to Clud-er-Yer, Commune of
Carnac ; at Mane-er-Penher and at Mane-Roullarde,

23

Commune of La Trinite. Certain of the larger ones
have been mistaken for dohnens, but these last have
always an entrance, while the stone-cists are always
closed. Most of them, if not all, were covered with
stone slabs like dolmens and are buried beneath
tumuli.

Tumuli and galgals are the outward coverings of
dolmens and covered ways ; the former are composed
of earth, mud and stones, but the latter arc exclusively
composed of stones on the exterior. The principal
galgals are those of Gavrinis, Commune of Baden ;
of Petit-Mont, Commune d'Arzon ; Mant§-er-Hroeck,
Commune of Locmariaquer ; the eastern part of
St. Michel, Commune of Carnac. The most charac-
teristic tumuli are those of Tumiac, Commune
d'Arzon ; Mane-Lud, Commune of Locmariaquer ;
Kerlescan ; Kercado ; Mousfoir ; Crucuny and St.
Michel, Commune of Carnac ; Beg-er Aud, Commune
of St. Pierre Quiberon ; St. Germain, Commune
d'Erdeven.

The large stone blocks forming the monuments
called megalithic are of the granite of the district and
are doubtless erratics, i.e., blocks of stone remaining
on the surface of the earth after the receding of the
ice of the glacial age.

As to their erection, it is possible that inclined
planes and levers were sufficient for their builders.

THEIR PURPOSE.

Excavations have been carried out in the case of
several dolmens, at first by M. de Robien (1727 to
1737) ; later by MM. de Penhoet and Renaud d'Auray,
in the Table des Marchands ani the Pierres-Plates
of Locmariaquer in 181 1 and i8i3 ; by M. Causique
in the Galgal of Gavrinis in 1882 ; lay M. le Bail
in the Dolmens of Rondossec in Plouharnel in i85o ;
by the Societe Polymathique du Morbihan in the
Tumulus d'Arzon in i853.

This last excavation having led to the discovery of

24

a crypt containing 32 axes or stone celts, three
turquoise necklaces and remains of human bones not
cremated aroused considerable interest.

The Society, encouraged by this first success,
d.ecidcd to undertake the exploration of other tumuli
in the district.

Under its auspices were excavated successively : —

1. The Tumulus of St. Michel at (Jarnac, in 1862,
by M. R. Galles and Dr. Closmadeuc. The
centre of the mound formed a crypt containing
39 celts, 2 necklaces and some cremated human
bones. (Bulletin de La Societe Polymathique du
Morbihan, 1862.)

2. The Gargal of Mane-er-Hroeck r.t Locmariaquer
in i863, by MM. R. Galles and Lefe\Te. This
mound contained a crypt in which were found
loi celts, I necklace, i disc and i engraved
stone. (Bulletin de La Societe Polymathique,
i863).

3. The Turnulus of Kercado at Carnac in 186 3, by
MM. R. Galles and Lefevre. This tumulus
contained a large dolmen with a gallery, the roof
stone and several supports of Avhich are engra-
ved. It contained 2 celts, i necklace, some flints
and human bones. (Bulletin de La Societe Poly-
mathique, i863.)

4. The Tumulus of Mane-Lud at Locmariaquer, in
i863-i864 by M. Galles. This tumulus con-
tained on the east a circle of menhirs on the top
of which were fragments of horses' heads ; in
the centre, a cist containing human bones ; and
on the west one large dolmen with a gallery
which had been discovered some time before.
Several of its supports are engraved. (Bulletin
de La Societe Polymathique, 1864.)

5. The Tumulus of Moustoir at Carnac in i864 by
M. R. Galles. This tumulus Avhich is sur-
mounted by a menhir contained on the east two
crypts or cells in which were found human

25

bones ; in the centre a heap of charcoal and of

animals' bones ; on the west a dolmen minus a

frallery containing bones and pottery. {BuUetia

de la Societe Polymathique, i864.)

It has been proved that tumuli Avere used as tombs.

Excavations made, both by the Societe Polymathique

and by independent individuals, and in latter years by

M. Ch. Keller, engineer at Nancy, in conjunction with

myself, have amply confirmed this fact, and have also

proved that the dolmens and covered ways are only

the remains of now ruined tumuli. The excavations

we are making with M. Keller at the Tumulus of St.

Michel at Carnac (which have already led to the

discovery of a second dolmen on the east) are being

carried on to establish these facts beyond a doubt

The objects found in these tombs are principally : —

1. Human bones, cremated and natural, sometimes
in great quantities indicating collective sepul-
chres or ossuaries ; sometimes in very small
quantities indicating individual sepulchres.
Animal bones, chiefly of horses and cattle, are
also found.

2. Various urns generally broken; some in common
])ottery, others in extremely line pottery. Many
appear to have been used but others have no
trace of usage and are most certainly ritual urns;
many are ornamented with apparently symboli-
cal drawings, and in November 1900, I discove-
red two small urns having at the bottom a small
depression made with the finger and somewhat
similar in shape to the depression found in the
base of one of the stone supports of the Galgal
of Gavrinis. Certain of these urns show in their
interior vnideniable traces of burning and have
undoubtedly been used for cooking purposes.

3. Axes or celts generally in hard stone, occasio-
nally in rare stone. Some of them are pierced
at the heel to allow of their being suspended.
Several, from 10 — 4;? centimetres long, are

wonderfully perfect. They do not appear to
have been used and can only have been votive
axes ; even at the present day our peasants consi-
der them valuable talismans and call them Men-
Gurun, or thunderbolts.

The expert Dr. G. Closmadcuc. who un-
ddublebly knows our monuments better than
anyone else and has studied them for half a
century, says in an article on the celts or stone
axes of the Armorican dolmens (Bulletin de La
Societe Polyinnthique, 1878) : —

a In the religion of the primitive Armorican
who built the dolmens of Morbihan, the stone
celt, or Men-Gurun, was purely and simply
a sacred object to be placed in the tomb
beside the dead, a sort of image or idol to be
adored as a tutelary god. We are, moreover,
led to imagine that this superstition con-
cerning the dead became a dogma, and was
handed down by uninterrupted tradition to
the Romanised Gauls. They adopted the
custom of consecrating their tombs to the
deified spirits of the dead, whom they repre-
sented by figures in the shape of an axe
nnder which was written the dedication : —
(( Sub ascia. »

4. Necklace beads, of Avhich some are of common,
while others are of precious material — notably
those made of a species of turquoise. These
necklace beads of various shapes had pendants
attached and one of these pendants, discovered
at the Tumulus of Mont St. Michel, was pierced
with two holes, showing that the necklace w^as
made up originally of two rows.

5. Instruments and dressed flints, knives, daggers,
arrow-heads, scrapers, nuclei, hammers, grin-
ding-stones, discs or circular shields ; lastly, a
species of large bead made of stone Avhich is said
to have been used with a distaff for spinning

flax, but which really shows no trace of having
served for this purpose, and was probably only
an amulet.

Certain gold trinkets have also been found in these
tombs : necklaces, bracelets and clasps.

The greater part of these are certainly votive objects
made specially and in order to be placed in the tombs
with the dead, so that they might use them in another
life. From this belief in immortality sprang the
respect for the dead and the care given tO' their
remains.

The excavations made at the foot of either isolated
or grouped menhirs (such as alignments and crom-
lechs) did not give the same results ; certain urns,
however, were discovered at the foot of isolated
menhirs, and I myself have discovered what appeared
to be two votive urns, one beside a small menhir in
the waste land of Hanhon, the other close to a
menhir in the waste land of Moustoir ; further dis-
coveries of fragments of poltery, a few stone imple-
ments, i3ebbles and charcoal seem to show that those
menhirs at least served tO' indicate tombs. Menhirs
placed on the tumuli themselves or in their immediate
neighbourhood served the same object.

During the excavations which I made with my
regretted chief, M. J. Milne, in the alignments of
Kermario we found at the foot of a menhir an urn
containing ashes, two brooches in bronze, and an iron
pick-axe, but these objects seem tO' be Gallo-Roman,
and therefore of a later date than the monuments
themselves.

I discovered in 1S89 in the Manio group under a
small hillock, which appeared to me to be the site of
a single menhir from an alignment, an ui'n containing
a flint fragment. This may have been' a tomb. I
cannot say for certain.

The cromlech placed at the western extremity
ol the alignments are part and parcel of the same,
and do not form a separate monument ; they yielded

28

nothing" to the excavators, nor did other isolated
cromlechs except that of Er-Lannic, where fragments
of pottery, and of flint, were found and fragments of
broken axes.

Undoubtedly these stone implements played a great
role in the lives of these primitive people. There is
therefore nothing surprising in the fact that they
transformed them into symbolic and religious
emblems, probably of a phallic kind. The cross, the
symbol adopted by the Christians, is found on their
tombs, some of which were placed on the road-sides
and especially at cross roads, and everywhere the cross
symbolises the Son of God. Likewise the menhir
was placed on tombs, on roadsides, at the boundaries
of territories, and everywhere the menhir was
symbolic of an immortal God.

The lech, which is only a dressed menhir destined
to support a cross, shows sufficiently the transition
stage between the menhir and the cross, exactly as
the Roman milestone is the transition between the
menhir sign-post and our kilometric stone. My idea
is therefore that isolated menhirs served in some
cases as tombstones, in others as commemorative
stones, sign-posts and landmarks, and that some
indicated territorial limits.

Whilst I grant that the alignments have a funeral
character, they cannot in my opinion represent actual
tombs. For how on that hypothesis can we explain
why certain of the burial places, namely, the dolmens,
are completely covered in, while others are open
to the sky ? Or why the cromlechs are always
at the western extremity of the alignments ? It is
equally difficult to understand why the large menhirs
are always placed near a cromlech and why the
menhirs theinselves take an easterly direction and
gradually diminish in size.

Indeed it is sufficiently evident that the alignments
have not been built up gradually, but that they have
been made at one and the same time. We must

39

L_.

U

W

s

"o
Q

3o

therefore grant that thoy are commemorative funeral
monuments and not actual tombs.

I think that they are the remains of religious
monuments, which were the meeting places for fetes
and for the celebration of religious ceremonies. The
aisles, or passages, were the sacred pathways for the
worshippers, and the cromlechs the sanctuary for the
officiating priests. If the orientations pointed out by
MM. Henri du Cleuziou and F. Gaillard are correct,
i.e., if by placing oneself at a given point of a crom-
lech one can see the sun rise above the menhirs
placed across the alleys between the alignments, we
know of a certainty that these fields of alignments
were placed for a definite purpose.

At Menec and St. Pierre Quiberon the feasts of the
Summer solstice were celebrated ; at Kermario the
feasts of the Summer solstice and the Spring and
Autumn equinoxes were held, exactly as the Christian
Church celebrates the feasts of the four seasons, of
which Christmas is the most characteristic.

There are a few lines of menhirs ending in tumuli,
such as those of Mane-er-Hroeck. Locmariaquer,
Clud-er-Yer, Kergo and Carnac these were cer-
tainly funeral in character.

This district was doubtless the centre of a country
eminently religious and from a distance pilgrims
came to worship and bring the remains of rich and
powerful chiefs, whether military or religious, to place
them in a sort of Champs-Elysees.

It is for this reason that we find such a large
number of monuments comprising many different
kinds and such richness and variety in the things
found in the tombs. Hence the name Carnac, Car-
nacium, charnier. ossuaire, ossarium, coemoeterium,
the cemetery of bones. It is from a religious idea
that we get the following naive and pretty legend of
St. Corncly : —

(( St. Cornely was Pope at Rome, from whence
he was hunted by Pagan soldiers who pursued
him. He fled before them, accompanied by a

3i

32

yoke of oxen, which hore his baggage and on
which he mounted Avhen weary. One evening he
arrived on the outskirts of a village called Le
Moustoir where he wished to stop ; having,
however, heard a young girl insulting her mother
he continued his way and arrived shortly at the
fool of a mountain Avhere there Avas another small
village. He then saw the sea in front of him and
immediately behind him soldiers in battle array
He stopped and transformed the whole army
into stones. As a souvenir of this great miracle
the inhabitants of the surrounding country
erected on the spot where he stopped a church
dedicated to St. Comely. That is the reason
why these long lines of stones standing to the
north of the village of Carnac are seen, and Avhy
so often at night ghosts are observed Avalking in
'' the alleys called « Soudardet sans Cornely », or
(( Soldats de St. Cornely ». Pilgrims from all
countries flocked to the place to implore St.
Cornely to cure their diseaded cattle. He
cured them all in remembrance of the great
services rendered to him by his yoke of oxen
during his flight.

« The pilgrims, coming to the (( Pardon of

St. Cornely », passed among the stone soldiers.

The men were supposed to bring stones, the

women earth, and to drop them on an elevation

near to Carnac, Avhere in time they formed the

mount of St. Michel. »

It is evidently this legend told by the first Irish

monks who came to preach the Gospel in this part of

Armorica which replaced the true traditions of these

alignments, exactly in the same way that the worship

of St. Cornely himself replaced the worship of the ox.

of which M. Milne and I found a statue in the ruins of

the Gallo-Roman villa of Bosseno.

The traditions about the dolmens tell us that those
piles of stones were the dwellings of the Kerions, a

33

dwarf people who formerly inhaljiled Ihe country.
The Korions were small but very strong, and a collo-
quial idiom is still often used, (( Strong as a Kerion ».

THEIR AGE.

All these monuments are not of the same age ;
eou:e are extremely ancient but I am sure that many
of ;nem are of a later date than is generally supposed.
They are said to date from the Stone Age, a time
when metals were not known in these districts. The
date of origin of the menhirs and dolmens is un-
doubtedly toi be found in the Neolithic or New Stone
Age. Ijut the religious use of these stone monuments
was continued long after that period, and many of
them date from a time wlien metals were well known.
To begin with, gold is found in connection with them;
other objects, such as weapons and ornaments of
bronze, have also been found, and we have seen that
the greater part of the objects found in the tombs
were ritual and votive and were made especially to
be placed there for use in the next world. Doubtless
the use of metal was excluded by the religious caste
which made and sold such articles. Not being able
or willing {o work the metals the priests of that time
in this district, the centre of their religion, resisted
the use of metal much longer than was the case
elsewhere.

In the monuments every thing--construction, orient-
ation, contents-indicates a very advanced civilisation.
We have seen that in several tumuli bones of horses
and oxen have been discovered, and not far from a
dolmen tombs containing what are doubtless the ashes
and bones of slaves and servants have been found.
It was customary for these primitive people to kill
the animals, and probably the servants, of the dead so
that they could be found again in another world.
This shows us that they believed in a world to come.
Everything tends to prove that the worship of the

H

dead formed a great pari of their religion, and that
certain ceremonies and their bargains always took
place beside the tombs. It is very curious to see
even nowadays that almost all our old churches and
crosses are placed near dolmens and menhirs, and
that our largest fairs arc usually held somewhat in
the same position.

Is this a coincidence ? I think not. It is certain
that the New Religion took possession of many
legends and monuments belonging tO' tho Old and
turned them tO' its own uses. This usurpation coidd
not have taken place before the /|th, r)th and 6th
centuries of our era, and may have been even later.
I am certain that at this time a religion which
admitted of menhirs and dolmens had not entirely
disappeared from Amorica notwithstanding the
conquest by the Romans, and further these sites
have retained their sacred character and fairs have
continued even to the present time.

I am more and more convinced that in studying the
contents of various sepulchres in different regions we
are forcibly driven to place our Morbihannais dol-
mens, not in the classification of M. G. de Mortillet in
the Robenhausicn, but (as I have contended for ten
years) in the later Rronze Age, or perhaps even in the
Gallic Age named Marnienne. There is no great dif-
ference between the large chariot sepulchres discove-
red in Champagne, and so carefully investigated by
M. Foudrignicr, which contain with the skeleton of a
warrior his clothes, weapons, amulets, tools, utensils,
eatables, his horse's harness, servants or slaves, and
our large tumuli, which contain in the dolmen human
bones (doiditless of chiefs), their weapons, attire,
amulets, tools, utensils, eatables, horses and some
less important and closed sepulchres called coffins
or cistvens, which could only be the tombs of slaves
or servants.

The contents of the Gallic tombs are slightly
different, it is true, from those of our dolmens ; ne-
vertheless one urn is decorated in high relief with

35

CJ

36

drawings similar to those found on several of the sup-
ports of (javrinis. Tlir rontents of the burial [jlate,<.
and even for that matter of dolmens, vary aeeording
to the distriet. The objects discovered in dolmens in
other parts of France are not identical with those
found in INhjrbihan. which are by far the richest and
m.ost elegant. The finest objects that I have seen
which have been found in dolmens are exhibited at
tlie Museum of St. Germain-en-Laye and are the ar-
ticles, or easts of them, discovered in our own district.

I am the more convinced that the builders of our
great megaliths knew of the existence of metal be-
cause the greater part of the engravings which one
finds on them denote its employment. The demons-
tration to prove the contrary Avhich was made at the
Musee de Saint Germain seems to me to have entirely
failed. Monseigneur I" Abbe Maitre engraved a frag-
ment of granite with axes of flint, a thing he could
not do with a fine bronze axe. which had lain some
'^,000 years in the soil. It seems to m.e, however, that
before beginning his experiment he should have given
this bronze axe the temper which the metallurgists of
the epoch had previously given it and which it had
ceased to possess for a long period. This is what is
called a conclusive experiment. It is no more conclu-
sive than the reproduction of the people living in the
dolmens as shown in the Ethnographical Museum
of the Trocadero. I had the sculptures on the greater
number of our dolmens exam-ined by our stone-
cutters ; all affirm that the sculpture was done Avith
metal instruments and I am of their opinion.

As far as I am concerned, tberefore, I do not
consider there is any proof that the last builders of
dohnens. covered Avays, cromlechs, alignments and
menhirs of this district Avere not Gallic, and did not
use metals, even iron. Tbe tombs of the Veneti of
Armorica are not yet discovered ; Avhere are they ?
\re they not perhaps those little galleries Avhich are
found on certain small heights surrounded by
embankments, and the circular sepulchres A\hichsppin

37

to be of a later date ? In any case the pottery and
certain contents of these last mentioned sepulchres
clbsely resemble those of certain dolmens and above
all of the covered ways. Further, their walls are
identical Avith the walls betAveen the supports of these
covered ways, notably those of Luffang, Maue-er-Loh
and Rocher. This last is placed in the centre of a
line of circular sepulchres Avilh Avhich it is certainly
connected. These monuments then Avoidd mark the
last phase of the megalithic monuments during the
Gallic, Armorican or Venetian epochs.

EXCURSIONS.

At Carnac, the centre of the megalithic monuments
and an important .Avatering-place, tA\o comfortable
hotels await tourists Avho having visited the church,
the fountain, and especially the IVlusee J. Milne, may.
vary their excursions ad infinitum, according to the
time at their disposal.

Every excursion should be begun Avith the Xumulus
of St. Michel. Avhcre one should visit the very curious
dolmen discovered in 1900, from the summit of Avhich
one commands a view of the surrounding monuments
of the country ; notably, the Alignments of Carnac.

The most important excursions are : —

1. For pedestrians having not more than tAvo hours
at their disposal : — The Tumulus of St. Michel ;
the Alignments and Dolmen of Kermario ; the
Alignments and Cromlech of Menec, and the
Dohnen of Cruz Moquen. Distance three and a
half kilometres.

2. For pedestrians having three hours to spare : —
The Tumulus of St. Michel ; the Roman ruins of
Ro'ssenno ; the Tumulus of Kercado ; the Crom-
lech, the Alignments and the Tvmiulus of
Kerlescan ; the Geant and Avail of Manio ;
the Alignments and Dolmen of Kermario ;
Alignments and Cromlech of Menec and the

38

Dolmen of Cruz-Moqiipn. Distanrf^ fi kilo-
metres.

3. Another excursion for pedestrians with three
hours to spare : — The Dolmen of Cruz-Moquen ;
the Alignments and Cromlech of Menec ; the
Geant of Kerderf ; Ihe Dolmens of Mane-
Kerioned, of which one is emhellished with
mystic signs ; Clud-er-Yer ; Keriaval and ^ote^io.
Distance five kilometres.

Ix. For pedestrians having at least five hours to
spare : — The Tumulus of St. Michel ; the Roman
Ruins of Rossenno ; the Timiulus of Kercado ;
Cromlech, Alignments & Tumulus of Kerlescan ;
Cromlech, Alignments and Tumulus of
Kerlescan ; the Geant and wall of Manio ; the
Alignments and Dolmen of Kermario ; the
Alignments and Cromlech of Menec ; the Geant
of Kerderf ; the Dolmens of Mane-Kerioned,
('lud-cr-Yer, Keriaval, iNoteris and Cruz-Mo-
quen. Distance ten kilometres.

5. For tourists cycling or driving from CarnaC and
having not more than Iavo hours' leisure : — The
Tumulus of St. Michel ; the Dolmen and
Alignments of Kermario ; the Alignments and
Cromlech of Menec and the Dolmen of Cruz-
Moquen. Distance five kilometres.

6. For tourists driving or cycling from Carnac and
having at least four hours to spare : — The
Tumulus of St. Michel ; the Tumulus of Kercado ;
the Cromlech and Alignments of Kerlescan ;
the Geant and Quadrilateral of Manio ; the
Alignments and Dolmen of Kermario ; the
Alignments and Dolmen of Menec ; the Dolmens
of Mane-Kerioned, Kerieval and Cruz-Moquen.
Distance twelve kilometres.

;. For tourists driving or cycling from Auray : —
The Dolm.ens of Keriaval, Mane-Kerioned ; the
Alignments and Cromlech of Menec ; the
Dolmen of Cruz-Moquen ; the Church, Fountain,

39

Museum and Villape of Carnac ; \he. Tumulus
of St. Michel ; tlie Dolmen and Alignments of
Kcrmario ; the Tumulus of Moustoir ; the
Dolmen of RochFeutet. Distance there and
hack twenty-seven kilometres. This excursion
can he commenced at the Dolmen of Roch-
Feutet and the Tumulus of Moustoir.

8. For tourists driving or cycling in the direction
of Locmariaquer. Distance from Carnac twelve
kilometres : — After crossing the ferry one can
visit on the surrounding heights tlie Dolmen of
Mane-Han, Kermane ; Menhir of Men-Melen ; the
Dolmens nf Kcrhan, Keroch ; see more paiticu-
iarly the Dnhnens of Kerveresse with its slone-
caps ; Mane-Liid ; the Tahie des Marchands
and sculptures thereof; the greai hroken Menhir;
the Dcimen of the Ruthual ; the covered way
of Pierre-Plates ; the Tumulus of Mane-Hroeck.
and the Tiunuius of (iavrinis in the island of
that name.

9. Tourists driving or cycling in the direction of
Erdeven. Distance nine kilometres : — The Dol-
mens of Kcrgavat, Rondossec ; the Menhirs
of Yieux-Moulin ; the Quadrilateral of ('rucuno ;
the Dolmens of Mane-Groch, Mane Rras, and
the Alignments of Kerzehro.

The tramway from Etel to La Trinite, viii the
station of Plouliarnel Carnac and Carnac Plage, is of
great use for excursions to the monuments of the
Communes of Plouharnel, Erdeven and Belz.

With the accompanying map tourists can modify
their excursions to their liking. I have only given
them a general idea of the main objects of interest.
I am generally tO' be found at the Musee J. Milne and
I am always ready to furnish such information as
tourists may need.

Zach.vrie Le Rouzic.

Editions de La
a6, rue St-Guii

University

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