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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The Dolmen de Boutouille, also known as dolmen de Kérangouez or Kérivin, is a megalithic monument located in the commune of Saint-Pol-de-Léon in Finistère. This dolmen, dated Neolithic, is a typical example of corridor dolmen, a funerary structure characteristic of this period. It was first mentioned in 1832 by the Chevalier de Fréminville and then listed as a historical monument in 1909.

The dolmen is in the form of a T, with a corridor of 4.60 meters long and 0.70 meters wide, opening onto an asymmetrical funeral chamber. The room, delimited by several grey and ochre granite slabs, is covered by two gneiss amphibolite blanket tables. There is no floor covering over the corridor. The floor height varies between 1.30 and 1.80 metres, and the room width ranges from 1.20 to 2 metres.

Among the particularities of the site, a slab on the southeast side presents two protuberances interpreted as a representation of the mother goddess, adding a symbolic dimension to the monument. The dolmen is located in a field formerly called Par-ar-C'héo (the cave field), between the so-called Keranguez and Kerivin. The remains of the tumulus and some surrounding stones are still visible, providing an overview of the original state of the site.

The materials used for the construction of the dolmen come from three different types of rock: the orthostats are of grey and ochre granite, while the covering slabs are of gneissic amphibolite. This choice of materials reflects the local resources available in the Neolithic era. The Dolmen de Boutouille thus illustrates the architectural and funeral practices of the communities of the time, while emphasizing their relationship with the landscape and natural materials.

The site has been studied and referenced in several books, notably in Guide des dolmens et menhirs brétons d'Aubrey Burl and in the Inventory of Neolithic and Bronze Age Monuments in Finistère by Yohann Sparfel and Yvan Pailler. These references attest to the archaeological and historical importance of the Dolmen de Boutouille in the Breton megalithic heritage.

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