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Origin and history

The covered road of Mougau-Bihan, also called Ti Lia Ven ("the flat stone" in Breton), is a megalithic monument located in Commana, Finistère. By comparison between 3000 and 2500 B.C., it consists of an 11 m funeral chamber and a 2.30 m terminal cell, all covered with five granite slabs. Its north-south orientation and narrow entrance, marked by an oblique pillar, suggest a ritual function related to neolithic funeral practices. Several inner slabs carry sculptures in bas-relief, including pairs of breasts, "pallets" and a curved axe, symbols still poorly interpreted today.

The monument was first mentioned in 1843 by Jean-Baptiste Ogée and described in detail by Jean-Marie Abgrall in 1884 in the Bulletin of the Archaeological Society of Finistère. Stunned in the mid-19th century without documented results, it is classified as historical monuments by order of 14 June 1909. Its alternative name, Al Lia Vaen, reflects its use as a collective burial for a local community, typical of Breton covered alleys. Stylistic comparisons with other megalithic sites in the region have improved its dating.

The carved ornaments, including breast and tool motifs, could evoke symbols of fertility or social status, common in megalithic art. The bedside slab, separating the room from the cella, carries a unique representation of ache-crosse, rare in the Breton repertoire. The site, although partially studied, remains a major testimony of the funeral and artistic practices of the final Neolithic in Armoric. Its state of conservation and its architectural peculiarities make it a subject of study for archaeologists, as evidenced by the work of Yohann Sparfel and Yvan Pailler (2011).

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