Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

Rode's dolmen is one of three dolmens of the Roh-Du group, located in the forest of Floranges, near the hamlet of Roh-Du in La Chapelle-Neuve (Morbihan). Ranked a historic monument in 1934, it presents itself as a rectangular megalithic chest (1.80 m x 0.80 m), facing east/west, covered with a laminated granite cover table. Its cairn, still visible, and its orthostates delimit a funeral chamber typical of Neolithic, reused in the bronze and iron ages.

Drained in 1987 by archaeologist Philippe Gouézin, the site delivered fragments of campaniform vases, attesting to prolonged occupation. At the Bronze Age, a dry stone chest was installed in the chamber, while at the Iron Age, the dolmen underwent a new phase of use. In the 18th century, a blacksmith settled, marking a artisanal appropriation of the site. The other two dolmens, of varying sizes and architectures, complete this megalithic ensemble.

Dolmen No. 1, the nearest (500 m west), shares a similar structure, with a subrectangular cairn and a dry stone wall. The third dolmen, smaller and square (0.80 m x 0.80 m), is oriented north-south and lacks covering slab. These monuments illustrate neolithic funeral practices in Brittany, with subsequent reuses reflecting the evolution of local societies.

The forest of Floranges, the setting of these dolmens, has a remarkable megalithic heritage, bearing witness to nearly 5,000 years of history, from Neolithic to modern times. Their classification in 1934 underlines their archaeological importance and preservation for future generations.

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