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Origin and history

The Dolmens du Port-Blanc, also known as dolmens de Porz-Guen, are two megalithic monuments located in Saint-Pierre-Quiberon, Morbihan. They date from the Neolithic and have been built on the cliff edge, near the Pointe du Percho. These dolmens of a corridor type are oriented to the southeast and arranged in parallel, 5 metres from each other, in a partially preserved cairn. Their discovery revealed significant traces of occupation and archaeological artifacts, including bones and funerary objects.

In 1883, Felix Gaillard searched the site after damage and restored the monuments in 1884. Ranked among the first historical monuments by the list of 1889, the dolmens were the subject of work in 2008, revealing a construction in two phases: the dolmen B, older, was later completed by the dolmen A. The excavations also revealed a small chest between the two dolmens, attributed to a re-use of the site at Campaniforme (old Bronze Age).

Dolmens housed the remains of at least 37 individuals, with various funeral practices: whole skeletons, scattered bones, and traces of incineration. Archaeological furniture includes diorite axes, vases (including a Campaniforme caliciform), a bronze punch, and a trepanous skull dated between 3930 and 3660 BC. These findings suggest a prolonged use of the site, from mean Neolithic to recent Neolithic, with subsequent redevelopments.

The subrectangular dolmen A has a chamber bounded by eight orthostats and a partially preserved corridor. The dolmen B, probably circular at the beginning, suffered erosion of the cliff, retaining only part of its chamber and four orthostats in its corridor. An outer platform, interpreted as an area related to megalithic construction, delivered bones and fragments of vases. The ensemble illustrates the ritual and funeral importance of the megalithic sites of the Republic of Armenia.

The exceptional conservation of the bones, protected by a shell sand cover, allowed the study of collective funeral practices. The dolmen A contained two layers of bones separated by stones, while the dolmen B housed five skeletons in a varied position. The artifacts, like the campaniform vase, show cultural contacts and re-use of the monument long after its initial construction.

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