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Origin and history

The dolmen of Cruz-Menquen, located in Carnac in Morbihan, is a megalithic vestige dated from the Neolithic. Originally conceived as a corridor dolmen, today there are only three orthostats supporting a 2.5 m by 2 m cover table, surmounted by a 2.5 m high cross. The surrounding tumulus has almost completely disappeared. This monument was excavated in 1878 by James Miln, who discovered fragments of pottery, cut flints and a terracotta fusaïole, now preserved at the Museum of Prehistory in Carnac. His plan was established in 1866 by Lukis, and it was classified as a historic monument in 1929.

The dolmen was once associated with pagan rituals: the young girls in search of marriage sat there on full moon nights, while the women who wanted a child rubbed themselves there. To eradicate these practices, the clergy placed a cross on the slab, christianizing the megalith at an unspecified time. This particularity made it a recurring iconographic subject, represented in 19th-century works such as the picturesque Universe (1845) or the megalithic monuments of all countries (1878), as well as on postcards from 1900.

Miln's excavations revealed modest but significant archaeological furniture, reflecting neolithic funeral or ritual practices. The exhumed objects, now exhibited at the local museum, include flint tools and pottery elements, typical of this period. Dolmen thus illustrates the transition between prehistoric beliefs and their Christian reappropriation, while remaining a symbol of Breton megalithic traditions.

The site's reputation extends beyond its archaeological interest: its representation in 19th-century engravings and paintings, often exaggerated or romanticized, reflects the enthusiasm of the time for ancient monuments. Authors such as Gailhabaud (1845) and Taylor (1847) contributed to its dissemination, while subsequent inventories, such as those of Zacharie Le Rouzic (1965), consolidated its scientific study. Ranked since 1929, it remains owned by the municipality of Carnac and accessible to the public.

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