Saint-Michel tumulus

Tumulus of St. Michel

Location	Carnac, France
Region	Brittany
Coordinates	47.5879°N 3.0735°W / 47.5879; -3.0735
Type	Tumulus
Length	125 metres (410 ft)
Width	60 metres (200 ft)
Height	10 metres (33 ft)

The Saint-Michel tumulus is a megalithic grave mound, located east of Carnac in Brittany, France. It is the largest grave mound in continental Europe.

History

See also: Carnac Stones

View of the Le Menec stone alignments with the Saint-Michel tumulus in the distance (top right)

The 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. 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