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Origin and history

The Dolmen de Goërem is a dolmen under tumulus located in Gâvres, Morbihan, near the mouth of the Blavet. Discovered in 1963 during work, it was searched between 1964 and 1967 by the archaeologist J. L-Helgouach. Ranked a historic monument in 1965, it is distinguished by its square corridor and compartmentalized chamber, covered by an oblong tumulus of 28 meters long. Its architecture, including engravings on ten slabs, suggests a complex cultural and sepulchral use.

The dolmen belongs to a group of eight similar monuments between the country of Retz and the river d'Etel, characterized by a corridor and a room forming a right angle. The 9.25-metre corridor leads to a 17-metre room divided into four compartments, including a closed terminal cell. The walls alternate megalithic slabs and dry stone walls, while a black clay layer ensures sealing under the tumulus. The engravings, in the form of rectangular cartridges, evoke images of idols.

The excavations revealed three distinct cultural groups through ceramics: Kerugou (fragments of vases), Conguel (an entire vase), and campaniforme (gobelet and decorated vases). The furniture also includes quartz, copper and gold objects attributed to the Campaniforme. Five radiocarbon dates placed the construction around 3200 BC. Helgouach suggests that the terminal cell may be home to an important character, before the site becomes a site of rites, then is condemned and briefly reused in the Campaniforme.

The building illustrates an occupation in two phases: a first linked to the Kerugou culture, followed by a campaniform re-use after a partial collapse. The first two tables covering the corridor, which were displaced, show an old violation. Internal partitioning, unique in nature, could reflect successive uses or specific ritual practices. Today, the dolmen remains a remarkable example of Breton megalithic architecture.

The tumulus, of oblong shape, is 28 meters long for a maximum height of 2.20 meters. Composed of stones and earth, he marries the form of the inner tomb. The entrance door to the room, partially obstructed, suggests access control. The engravings, more numerous in the rear compartments, reinforce the hypothesis of a sacred space with symbolic or funerary function, reserved for an elite or for collective ceremonies.

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