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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The Dolmen de la Madeleine, located in Carnac, Morbihan, is an emblematic megalithic vestige of Neolithic. This monument, classified as Historical Monuments in 1900, was studied in the 19th century. It is distinguished by its architectural type, a dolmen with a short corridor, although its present state is ruined and not restored. The funeral chamber still retains three orthostats on its left side and only one on the right side, while the cover table, adorned with cups, has tilted inside. The floor is covered with a large slab, and traces of the original tumulus remain visible as a stony relief.

In 1866, Lukis made a topographic survey of the site, followed in 1883 by excavations conducted by Felix Gaillard, who had already explored the dolmen without previously known results. During these excavations, Gaillard discovers, about 8,50 meters south-southeast of the entrance, a stone chest (cist) bounded by seven slabs. This chest, now destroyed, was 1.10 m long and 0.60 m wide and 0.47 m deep. The excavations collected a few fragments of pottery, both in the dolmen and in the trunk, offering clues to the funeral and ritual practices of the time.

The Dolmen de la Madeleine illustrates the importance of megalithic constructions in the region of Carnac, known for its exceptional concentration of prehistoric monuments. Its classification in 1900 underscores its heritage value, although its state of degradation today limits its complete architectural understanding. Studies conducted in the 19th century, notably by Gaillard, remain references for the study of Breton dolmens and their associated archaeological furniture.

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