Construction of dolmen Néolithique (≈ 4100 av. J.-C.)
Estimated period of construction of the monument.
16 janvier 1935
Historical monument classification
Historical monument classification 16 janvier 1935 (≈ 1935)
Official dolmen protection date.
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui Aujourd'hui (≈ 2025)
Position de référence.
Heritage classified
Dolmen de Coët-er-Rui (Case ZL 99): Order of 16 January 1935
Key figures
Information non disponible - No character cited
The source text does not mention any historical actors.
Origin and history
The Dolmen de Coët-er-Rui, also known as the dolmen de Guénestre, is a megalithic burial site located in the commune of Saint-Alloustre, Morbihan department, Brittany. This monument dates from Neolithic, a period marked by the emergence of agriculture and the construction of collective funeral structures. Today, the building is largely ruined, and its original architecture remains unknown. Only one orthostat buried and three slabs resting on the ground remain, one of which presents engravings: six crosses, an arc of circle and about ten cups.
The dolmen was classified as historical monuments by a decree of 16 January 1935, thus recognizing its heritage importance. The granite slabs contrast with the local basement of precambrian shale, suggesting that they were transported from another area. This detail highlights the effort and organization needed to build such monuments in the Neolithic era.
The engravings on one of the slabs offer a rare testimony to the symbolic or religious practices of the Neolithic communities. Although the site is in poor condition today, there remains a significant example of Breton megalithism, illustrating the funeral and artistic traditions of this distant period.
