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Origin and history

The menhirs of Kerangosker, located in the commune of Pont-Aven in Finistère, are two granite blocks erected during the Neolithic period. The most imposing, 5.50 metres high, is distinguished by an almost vertical north face and a cross engraving patted at 1.30 m from the ground. Less than 150 meters to the northwest stands a second menhir of 3.30 m, with contrasting faces (plane to the north, curved and eroded to the south). These monuments, mentioned in 1835 by the Chevalier de Fréminville, were described by several 19th-century authors as Ogée or R-F. Le Men.

The great menhir, nicknamed the Rooster Stone, is at the heart of a local legend: a rooster would emerge twice a year, at Easter and Christmas, to sing at midnight and reveal a treasure buried under the stone, which would then rise. This oral tradition, typical of Breton folklore, illustrates the symbolic and mystical importance accorded to megaliths by ancient communities. The site was classified as historic monuments by order of 6 January 1971, thereby recognizing its heritage value.

Historical descriptions of the 19th century, such as those of René-François Le Men in 1876 or Louis Flagelle in 1878, highlight the persistence of archaeological interest in these menhirs. Their work, published in scholarly bulletins, helps document the state of monuments before modern studies. In 2011, Yohann Sparfel and Yvan Pailler included Kerangosker in their Inventory of Neolithic and Bronze Age Monuments in the Finistère, confirming his membership in a larger regional megalithic network.

The main menhir, in granite, has remarkable dimensions: 1.15 to 2.50 m wide at the base, with a patted cross engraved 0.40 m high on its eastern face. These features, combined with its imposing height, make it a significant example of Breton megalithic architecture. The second menhir, although lower, shows marked erosion traces, showing its prolonged exposure to the weather.

The exact location of the menhirs, near the Kerangosker farm and in the Kerveguelen moorland, was specified by the 19th century sources. Today, their administrative address is attached to Pont-Aven (code Insee 29217), in the district of Quimper. Their preservation, ensured by the 1971 ranking, makes it possible to study their role in the cultural and religious practices of Neolithic in Brittany.

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