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Origin and history

The covered road of the Cartières, also known as the covered driveway of Besnardière, is a megalithic site located in Buais-Les-Monts, in the commune of Saint-Symphorien-des-Monts (Manche, Normandy). This funerary monument dates from the Neolithic and is distinguished by its structure in two perpendicular aisles, one facing east-west (10.50 m), the other north-south (8.90 m). The slabs, made of granite and local diorite, originally supported the roof tables, some of which still remain today.

The avenue was discovered in 1870 by M. de Beauregard, but its first written mention dates back to 1877 by Henri Moulin. In 1908, Léon Coutil drew up a detailed plan. The site suffered damage during the storm of 1999, caused by the fall of surrounding trees. No published archaeological excavations document exhumed artifacts, although testimonies evoke flint tools and fragments of neolithic pottery, which are now missing from local collections.

Ranked a Historical Monument in 1977, the covered road of the Cartesières shares this protection decree with other megalithic sites of the Channel, such as the polishers of Saint-Cyr-du-Bailleul. Its current state leaves uncertainty about the original organization of the funeral chambers, particularly about the communication between the two aisles. The slabs collapsed or displaced by carriages northeast of the site are evidence of the disturbances experienced over the centuries.

Archaeological remains, though fragmentary, suggest a collective sepulchral use, typical of neolithic practices. The flint tools and ceramic teasses, mentioned by M. de Rougé (former owner), have never been scientifically studied. Today, the site remains a remarkable example of Norman megalithic architecture, although its interpretation is limited by the absence of modern excavations.

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