Dolmen, à Kerlud
MonumentHidden Treasure
Dolmen, à Kerlud, located in Locmariaquer (Département 56), is a historic monument. The monument is currently closed to visitors.
Key facts
- Type
- autre
- Location
- Locmariaquer, Département 56, Bretagne
- Visit
- Closed to visitors
- GPS
- 47.5668, -2.9561
- Mérimée Reference
- PA00091383
A Neolithic vestige buried on the Locmariaquer peninsula, the Kerlud dolmen reveals Breton megalithic funerary art in one of the most sacred areas of European prehistory.
History
In the heart of the Locmariaquer peninsula, a mythical territory in Morbihan where sea and stone have been in dialogue for thousands of years, the Kerlud dolmen stands out as one of the silent witnesses to a Neolithic civilisation of astonishing sophistication. Listed as a Historic Monument since 1927, it belongs to the constellation of megaliths that make Quiberon Bay one of the world's greatest prehistoric sanctuaries. This corridor dolmen, typical of Armorican funerary architecture, is made up of orthostats - large slabs standing vertically - topped by massive roofing slabs forming a sepulchral chamber. The whole structure demonstrates remarkable skill in handling granite blocks weighing up to several tonnes, with no tools other than human strength, wooden levers and plant ropes. The robustness of the construction explains why it has survived for over five thousand years. The Kerlud site is part of an exceptional megalithic landscape. Just a few hundred metres away are the Table des Marchand, the Grand Menhir Brisé d'Er Grah and the Er Grah tumulus - all monuments that make up one of the densest prehistoric complexes in Europe. To visit the Kerlud dolmen is to enter a space where time stands still, where contemplation of the mossy stones invites meditation on the first sedentary civilisations of Western Europe. The natural setting enhances the experience: the low-angled morning and evening light, tinting the granite with shades of gold and grey, lends the site an almost mystical atmosphere. Photographers and archaeology enthusiasts will find plenty to explore here, while families can learn about the mysteries of the Armorican Neolithic in a living context.
Architecture
The Kerlud dolmen belongs to the family of Armorican corridor dolmens, the dominant architectural type in Morbihan during the Middle Neolithic (around 4500-3500 BC). Its structure is based on the universal principle of the megalith: large vertical slabs of local granite, the orthostates, delimit an elongated or polygonal burial chamber, covered by one or more horizontal covering tables weighing up to several dozen tonnes. The whole structure was originally enclosed in a mound of earth and dry stone that protected the slabs and gave the monument the appearance of an artificial sacred hill. The bluish-grey granite from the Rhuys peninsula used for the construction has a coarse-grained texture characteristic of the Armorican basement. The orthostats, either rough-cut or slightly upright, bear witness to an intuitive knowledge of the rock's mechanical properties - natural fissures being exploited for cutting. The main chamber, accessible via a narrower entrance corridor, must have been several metres long, in line with the great regional dolmens such as the nearby Table des Marchand. The special architectural feature of these monuments lies in their structural durability: designed to last forever, they were built with an impressive reserve of stability. Some of the slabs may contain engravings or cupules, common motifs on the Locmariaquer megaliths, but their legibility depends on the state of preservation of the surfaces. The orientation of the axis of the corridor, generally aligned with the solstices or equinoxes, suggests an astronomical and ritual dimension at the very heart of the architectural project.
Related Figures
Prosper Mérimée — inspecteur général des Monuments Historiques, pionnier de l'inventaire du patrimoine mégalithique breton au XIXe siècleJames Miln — archéologue écossais ayant mené des fouilles pionnières dans la région de Carnac-Locmariaquer dans les années 1870-1880Zacharie Le Rouzic — archéologue et conservateur du musée de Préhistoire de Carnac, auteur de nombreux relevés des dolmens morbihannais au début du XXe siècleCharles-Tanguy Le Roux — préhistorien breton contemporain, spécialiste des mégalithes armoricains et des monuments de LocmariaquerCommunautés néolithiques de la culture Teviec-Hoëdic — bâtisseurs anonymes du dolmen, héritiers d'une tradition funéraire atlantique millénaire
Tags
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Dolmen, à Kerlud located?
Dolmen, à Kerlud is located in Locmariaquer, Département 56 department, Bretagne region, France.
Is Dolmen, à Kerlud open to visitors?
Dolmen, à Kerlud is currently closed to visitors.