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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The dolmens of the point of Liouse, also known as dolmens of Pen-Liouse, form a set of three megalithic monuments located on the island of Arz, in Morbihan. They are mentioned for the first time in 1825 by Abbé Mahé, who evokes their proximity to a cromlech and the alignments of stones that have now disappeared. Dolmens A and B, included in the same tumulus, are oriented to the southeast, while dolmen C, smaller and circular, was initially interpreted as a cromlech before the excavations of Abbé Le Gouguec in 1883-1884.

Archaeological excavations revealed significant artifacts: fragments of pottery, a stone axe in Dolmen A, and two vases, a small vase, fragments of ceramics, a blade and a flint axe in Dolmen C. Dolmen B, on the other hand, presents remarkable engravings, including a palm shaped style nicknamed "hell of the Goddess" and a possible representation of the "great Goddess". These discoveries suggest a funeral and ritual use of the place.

Dolmens A and B are also known as Ilis-Margo or Maison des Poulpiquets, reflecting their roots in local tradition. The site, in ruins as early as 1847 according to Cayot-Delandre, was listed as historical monuments on 24 July 2023. This protection covers the dolmens, the remains of their tumulus, as well as the soil of the surrounding plots, constituting an archaeological reserve.

The granulite blocks used for their construction and west-east alignment highlight their integration into a larger megalithic landscape, typical of the Breton Neolithic. Their present state, partially degraded, reflects the preservation challenges posed by erosion and past human activities, such as the clearings reported in the 19th century.

The importance of the site also lies in the detailed records of the excavations, notably those of Abbé Le Gouguec and G. de Closmadeuc for the Morbihan Polymathic Society. These documents provide valuable insight into archaeological methods of the time and interpretations of remains, such as the re-evaluation of Dolmen C, originally confused with a cromlech.

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