Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The Dolmen de Kercadoret is a megalithic monument located in Locmariaquer, Morbihan, Brittany. Dated from Neolithic, it is distinguished by its orthostat structure and its unique cover table, typical of the collective burials of this period. The room, 1.80 m long by 1.35 m wide, was covered with a bed of pebbles, and one of the orthostats carries "corniform" engravings. This site illustrates the funeral and artistic practices of local neolithic communities.

Ranked as historical monuments on 11 September 1929, the dolmen was restored in the same year by the archaeologist Zacharie Le Rouzic. The latter discovered rich archaeological material, including flint arrow tips, decorated ceramic fragments, animal bones, and a copper javeline tip, revealing exchanges or early metallurgy control. These artifacts demonstrate the ritual and social importance of the site during the Neolithic period.

The architectural description of the dolmen highlights its south-south-east orientation and its six orthostates still in place. Le Rouzic published his work in the Bulletin de la Société préhistorique de France (1931), highlighting the quality of lithic artifacts, in particular the arrow tips with peduncle and ailerons in yellow flint. These elements, combined with seashells and quartz tools, suggest varied activities, ranging from hunting to symbolic or funeral practices.

Today, Kercadoret's dolmen remains an emblematic example of Breton megalithism, integrated into the Morbihan prehistoric site networks. Its ranking and restoration allowed its preservation, providing researchers and visitors with an overview of the architectural and cultural traditions of the Neolithic societies of the region. The approximate location of the site, noted as "passable" (level 5/10), invites further studies to refine its historical mapping.

External links