The Kercado passage grave is located 2.25 km ENE of Carnac-Ville. It is amongst the oldest megalithic monuments estimated to been build as early as 4675 BC. The monument was excavated in 1863 by R. Galles and in 1925 by Z. Le Rouzic. A number of finds were made, including several axes, burnt human bone, … Read more
This passage tomb in Locmariaquer, Brittany (Carnac area) is know under various other names: Mané Rutuel, Mané Rethuel, Mané Ruthuel and Bé-er-Groah, which means ‘the tomb of the witch’. The monument has a number of upright stones with engravings. On two stones a symbol can be found that was named after this monument ‘Mané Retual … Read more
Mané Lud is a large Neolithic funerary mound at Locmariaquer in southern Brittany, within the Carnac–Gulf of Morbihan megalithic zone. The mound measures roughly 107 × 54 m and rises to nearly 6 m. It is associated with a chambered cairn or passage-grave element, placing it among the monumental tomb architecture of the 5th–4th millennium … Read more
This passage tomb in Locmariaquer, Brittany (Carnac area) is known under various other names: Mané Rutuel, Mané Rethuel, Mané Ruthuel and Bé-er-Groah, which means ‘the tomb of the witch’. The monument is very well-known for its decorated stones and giant capstone. It has been examined a number of times. It was dug into in Roman … Read more
Elizabeth Shee Twohig has coined the term Megalithic art in her study of ‘The Megalithic Art of Western Europe’ [1]. Her original definition of Megalithic art focussed on paintings or carvings found on the structural elements, like the kerbstones, orthostats, or capstones of megalithic tombs, but recent investigations have included decorations on Stelae and Menhirs. … Read more
This extraordinary monument is the longest passage tomb in Brittany: 11.8 m long, 2 m high and only 1.5 m wide. No finds were recorded from excavations. When entering the tomb it becomes immediately apparent that is a special place and different to any of the other tombs nearby. The stones of the passage and … Read more
Described from finds in Breton megalithic art this symbol is named yoke in literature (e.g. [1] ). Locations This symbol can be found in a number of passage tombs in Brittany. A fine example can be found in the passage tomb of the Mané Lud mound in Locmariaquer with eleven ‘yokes’ on one orthostat. Interpretation … Read more
This symbol was named after the Mané Rutual (also known as Mané Rutuel or Mané Rethuel) chambered cairn where it was first found. It is also called ‘Mane Rutual axe’ or ‘plough axe’. Locations The symbol is found in a number of megalithic cairns. Although there is believe that some (if not all) carvings are … Read more
This symbol was subject to a shift in meaning. In ancient Greece it was standing for a sphere or globe. The recent meaning in astronomy is the Earth. In the Bronze Age it was associated with the sun. Hence its alternative name: Sun wheel. Locations The symbol can be found in several rock art sites … Read more
Described from finds in Breton megalithic art this symbol is named ‘crook’ in literature (e.g. [1] ). Locations This symbol can be found in a number of passage tombs in Brittany, including Mané Hroeck, Mané Rutual, Mané Lud, Gavrinis. The backstone of the passage tomb ‘Table des Marchands’ in Locmariaquer shows a number of this … Read more
