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Origin and history

The Dolmen du Conguel, located in Quiberon, Morbihan, is a dolmen with a short corridor dated Neolithic. Discovered in 1891 by Félix Gaillard, it is distinguished by an original architecture: its south-rectangular bedroom (4 m x 1.70 m) is partially carved into a natural granite outcrop. The entrance, oriented to the northeast, was preceded by a corridor that is now gone. The site was covered with a cairn and delivered exceptional funerary furniture, including decorated pottery that allowed to define the type Conguel, characteristic of this period.

The excavation revealed two distinct phases of use, separated by a flat stone slab. The lower layer contained the remains of at least five individuals with round or flat bottom vases decorated with incised motifs (vertical/horizontal bands, concentric semi-circles). The upper layer, more recent, contained two skeletons in folded positions, associated with biconic vases of campaniform style. This furniture, now preserved at the Museum of National Archaeology, bears witness to evolving funeral practices.

Ranked a historic monument in 1920, the dolmen suffered damage in 1926 during adjacent works, before being restored by Zacharie Le Rouzic at the expense of the Paris-Orléans Railway Company. Its location, initially threatened by the construction of Conguel Boulevard, was finally preserved. The archaeological discoveries, partially published by Felix Gaillard in 1892, also included polished axes, pearls and flint tools, highlighting the ritual and social importance of the site.

The dolmen derives its name from the Menhir du Conguel, located 160 m north, which had attracted Gaillard's attention. The latter, convinced that the menhirs reported burials, had undertaken surveys leading to the discovery of the grave. The excavations were conducted by Count Charles de La Grange, while Gaillard provided the scientific report. The site thus illustrates the early archaeological methods of the late 19th century, marked by collaborations between local scholars and national institutions such as the Société d'Anthropologie de Paris.

The analysis of ceramic furniture allowed to define a specific cultural facies, known as Conguel type, characterized by geometric incised decorations (broken lines, concentric patterns). This style, unique to the region, is part of the cultural exchanges of the final Neolithic, a period marked by the emergence of networks of influence covering Atlantic Europe. The pottery of the upper layer, of campaniform bill, reflects contacts with traditions from south-western Europe, bearing witness to the cultural dynamics of the time.

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