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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The Menhirs of Mané-Meur, located in Quiberon in Morbihan, are a set of three erect stones dating from the Neolithic. The main menhir, measuring 3.40 m in height, 1.70 m in width and 0.40 m in thickness, is remarkable for its sixteen well visible cups. It has been classified as historical monuments since 1889 and is now integrated into a green space at the western exit of the village of Manemeur. This site could be a vestige of an ancient megalithic alignment, a hypothesis reinforced by the presence of two other menhirs located about 250 meters west, also classified in 1927 and 1931.

Between 2016 and 2019, preventive archaeological excavations allowed to rediscover the remains of a cairn including two dolmens with quadrangular chambers, first explored in the 19th century and then considered destroyed. These findings confirm the historical and archaeological significance of the site, which was probably a major funeral or ritual site during Neolithic. The lying menhir, specifically classified in 1931, now belongs to the municipality of Quiberon and remains accessible to the public.

The Mané-Meur site illustrates the intense megalithic activity of the Breton region in the Neolithic, a period marked by the erection of funerary and symbolic monuments. These menhirs, like many others in Brittany, bear witness to the cultural and religious practices of prehistoric communities, which used these stones to mark sacred places or collective burials. Their preservation and classification reflect the effort to preserve the French megalithic heritage, particularly rich in this region.

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