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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The Dolmen de Kergasec is an iconic megalithic monument located in the commune of Plouharnel, Morbihan. Built between 5,800 and 6,200 years B.C.E., during the Neolithic period, it illustrates the funeral practices of this period. Originally conceived as a corridor tomb, today only its room, of coarsely rectangular shape (2 m x 2.5 m), topped by a granite covering slab measuring 4.3 m long. A corridor vestige, facing southwest, marks the original entrance to the grave.

The site was the subject of archaeological excavations conducted by two major figures in megalithic research: William Collings Lukis in 1864, and Zacharie Le Rouzic in 1935. The latter undertook a partial restoration of the monument, including the winding of the stone trimmings and the relocation of the covering slab. These interventions preserved the structure, which was officially classified as historical monuments on 7 May 1945. Since 2025, the dolmen has included all the megaliths of Carnac and the banks of the Morbihan, a UNESCO World Heritage property.

Architecturally, the dolmen is distinguished by its granite orthostates, typical of the Neolithic constructions of the region. Located on the edge of a field, between the hamlet of Kergasec and the chapel Saint-Antoine, it is part of a dense megalithic landscape, characteristic of the Morbihan. Its present state, though partial, offers valuable testimony to the construction techniques and funeral rites of Breton Neolithic societies. The monument thus embodies both a local heritage and a milestone in prehistoric European history.

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