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Heritage classified

Origin and history

Men Guen Menhir, also known as Menhir de la Saline, is a megalithic monument located in the municipality of Saint-Gildas-de-Rhuys, Morbihan department, Brittany. This menhir, a height of 1.50 m and a width of 1.90 m, was registered as historic monuments by order of 9 September 1968, although its protection dates back to an earlier classification dated 19 May 1931. It is referenced under Cadastre L3.

Menhirs, typical of megalithism, are erect stones whose origin and exact function often remain mysterious. In Morbihan, a region rich in prehistoric remains, these monuments are frequent and bear witness to the cultural and religious practices of neolithic societies. Men Guen's menhir, although modest in size compared to others, is part of this emblematic heritage.

The precise location of the menhir, on the island of Houat or in Saint-Gildas-de-Rhuys, appears to be confused in the available sources. According to the Merimée base, it is associated with the municipality of Saint-Gildas-de-Rhuys, in Morbihan, while some mentions refer to the island-d-Houat. This ambiguity reflects the documentation challenges of ancient monuments, often displaced or poorly referenced over the centuries.

Menhir is now protected and recognized as an element of French historical heritage. Its inscription and its subsequent classification underline its archaeological and cultural importance. The available data do not specify its original use, but like most menhirs, it may have had a ritual, commemorative or astronomical function.

The Breton region, and especially the Morbihan, is known for its high concentration of megalithic sites, whose Carnac alignments are the most famous example. These monuments, erected between the fifth and third millennia BC, bear witness to the ingenuity and organization of prehistoric societies. Their preservation allows us to study the beliefs and techniques of these distant times.

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