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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The covered alley of the Petit Vieux Sou, located in Brecé in the Mayenne (Land of the Loire), is a megalithic site emblematic of the final Neolithic. Built at 157 m above sea level on a plateau overlooking the Colmont Valley, it is 11 m long, with a constant width and height of 1.40 m. Its structure, oriented north-west/south-east, includes twenty-one orthostats delimiting a funeral chamber accessible by a side entrance typical of the Armo Rican alleys, preceded by a 2.20 m corridor. The oval tumulus (15 x 6 m), consolidated by counter-pillars in quinconce, was covered with a cairn now extinct. The monument, well preserved, was partially restored by reusing local materials to replace an orthostat, four roof tables and cairn stones.

The first written mention of the alley dates back to 1907 by Mr. Pichot, followed in 1908 by L. Trohel in his Celtic Memories. Piled in 1942, it was systematically searched between 1978 and 1982, revealing a rich funerary furniture despite the acidity of the soil: 1,280 objects including 13 almost complete vases, 5 polished axes, arrow frames and a shale pendant. Carbon dating 14 of charcoals (1979) ranged from 2800 to 2260 BC. Part of the artifacts are on display at the Jublains Archaeological Museum. Classified as a historical monument in 1988, this collective grave illustrates the funeral practices and crafts of Neolithic in western France.

The monument is distinguished by its neat architecture, including the "hub-hole" entrance, which is re-shaped at the base of the corner pillars, which is probably originally closed by a slab. The external trimming of the tumulus, consisting of inclined flat stones, was partially reconstructed east side by 7 m. The filling, composed of clay and compacted sand, wrapped the chamber like a narrow sheath. Despite the looting, the excavations allowed to reconstruct a complex funeral ritual, marked by the absence of bones but an abundance of offerings (rough ceramics with rough decorations, flint tools and dolerite). These discoveries highlight the symbolic and social role of covered alleys as places of collective memory for Neolithic communities.

The covered lane of the Petit Vieux Sou is part of a network of Mayan megalithic sites, characterized by their lateral entrance and landscape integration. Its exceptional state of conservation allowed a faithful restoration, while documenting construction techniques (orthostats, cover tables) and local adaptations (cairn, tumulus). The objects discovered, including the dissymmetric vases and the pierced cup, question their ritual or daily use. Ranked among historical monuments, this burial provides a tangible testimony to the cultural and technological exchanges between Armorica and neighbouring regions during the third millennium BC.

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