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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The Dolmen d'Yvias, also known as the Tumulus de Tossen-ar-Run, is a megalithic monument located in the municipality of Yvias in the Côtes-d'Armor department of Brittany. This site, dated from the Neolithic, is in the form of an imposing tumulus of 4 meters high and 120 meters perimeter, housing a dolmen built of dry stones. The whole is covered with a dolmenic cairn of 3.50 meters in height and 25 meters in diameter, composed of small stones and light grey clay. The dolmen consists of a 4.40-metre-long corridor, preceding a 3.30-metre-diameter funeral chamber, initially covered with a corbelled vault today collapsed.

During the excavations conducted in 1899 by A. Martin, the funeral chamber was discovered intact. It contained the skeleton of a 13-14 year-old, surrounded by funerary objects such as flint and polished schist tools, a dolerite polished axe, a polished stone bead, a almond-shaped cake and two vases. These artifacts bear witness to the funeral practices and crafts of the Neolithic era. The site has been classified as historic monuments since 1959, highlighting its heritage importance.

The tumulus of Tossen-ar-Run illustrates Breton megalithic architecture, marked by the use of large slabs and dry stone construction techniques. This type of monument generally served as a collective or individual burial, reflecting the beliefs and social organization of neolithic communities. The presence of funerary objects suggests a special status for the buried adolescent, although details of his identity or role remain unknown.

The excavations of 1899 documented precisely the internal structure of the dolmen, revealing architectural elements such as the access corridor and the funeral chamber. The discovery of polished stone tools and objects indicates exchanges or advanced technical mastery for the time. The site, now protected, offers a valuable testimony of funeral practices and daily life in Neolithic Brittany.

The location of the Dolmen d'Yvias, in today's rural environment, contrasts with its historical importance. In the Neolithic era, these monuments were often located in strategic areas, serving as landmarks in the landscape and as places of memory for local communities. Their construction involved collective organization and engineering knowledge, reflecting a structured and sedentary society.

The classification of the dolmen in 1959 as a historical monument allowed its preservation and study, contributing to a better understanding of the megalithism in Brittany. The artifacts discovered, which are now probably preserved in archaeological collections, offer clues to craft techniques, trade and funeral rituals of this distant period.

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