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The Saint-Michel tumulus is a megalithic grave mound, located east of Carnac in Brittany, France.[1] It is the largest grave mound in continental Europe.
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Location | Carnac, France |
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Region | Brittany |
Coordinates | 47°35′16″N 3°04′25″W / 47.5879°N 3.0735°W |
Type | Tumulus |
Length | 125 metres (410 ft) |
Width | 60 metres (200 ft) |
Height | 10 metres (33 ft) |
History
editThe tumulus was built during the fifth millennium BC. It consists of a mound of earth and stones 125 metres (410 ft) long, 50 metres (160 ft) wide and 10 metres (33 ft) high.[1] Explored in 1862, researchers found there a central vault containing fairly prestigious funerary furniture: axes, pearls, flint tools and sillimanite.
It has been classified as a "Monument historique" (National heritage site) since 1889.
Around 1900, the archaeologist Zacharie Le Rouzic again excavated the Saint-Michel tumulus and discovered a second dolmen and fifteen small stone chests, thus revealing the complexity of this monument.
Gallery
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Saint-Michel tumulus plan by Zacharie Le Rouzic
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Excavation entrance to the tumulus
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Finds from the Saint-Michel tumulus
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Jade axes from the tumulus
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Callais necklace from the tumulus
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Broken stone axes from the tumulus
References
edit- ^ a b "Saint-Michel tumulus". www.megalithes-morbihan.com. Retrieved 6 November 2014.