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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The covered alley of Coalen Island is a megalithic monument located on the estran of the island of the same name, in Lanmodez, in the Côtes-d'Armor. Built during the Neolithic period, it is 7.20 metres long for 1.40 metres wide, bounded by orthostates of Perros granite. Today, largely ruined, it no longer retains its covering slabs, but remains like a bedside slab and side blocks remain.

The site, classified as a historic monument in 1977, is only accessible at low tide, as it is at an altitude of 0 m. Excavations conducted in 1977 revealed pottery coats and flint waste, attesting to an ancient human occupation. The monument illustrates the funeral and cultural practices of the Neolithic communities of the region.

The covered driveway of Coalen Island is part of a wider set of megalithic sites of Côtes-d'Armor, typical of Brittany. These structures, often linked to funeral rites, bear witness to the social and spiritual organization of the people of the time. Their implantation on islands or estrans suggests a symbolic relationship with natural cycles, such as tides.

The protection of the site in 1977 underlines its heritage importance, although its state of conservation remains precarious. Perros granite slabs, characteristic of the region, reinforce its geographical and historical anchor. Today, the monument attracts the attention of archaeologists and megalith enthusiasts, despite the challenges posed by its maritime environment.

Research carried out on the site, notably by Anne Marchat and Michelle Le Brozec in 1991, helped document its history. Their book The megaliths of Lannion Borough provide details of its structure and regional context. This work remains a reference for understanding Breton covered aisles and their role in neolithic societies.

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