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Origin and history

The Kermaillard Menhir, nicknamed Skalehir or the butter moth, is a 5.2 m long granite block (visible and buried part combined), erected during the Neolithic period. Discovered in the lying state, he was re-established in September 1988 by archaeologist Joël Lecornec on his original site, in a pit of setting discovered during preliminary excavations. Its inscription under the title of Historical Monuments by order of 24 July 2023 protects both the menhir and a perimeter of 6 m around it, including specific cadastral plots.

The peculiarity of Kermaillard lies in his engravings and cupules, made while the menhir was already overturned. The north-west face, an ancient face torn apart, reveals three distinct signs: a pointed heel axe, a quadrangular pattern interpreted as a mother goddess or terrestrial space, and a lunar crescent (or stylized boat). These symbols find an identical echo on a menhir of the Old Molin alignments. The eastern side, on the other hand, has an engraved cetacean (cachalot type), cupules, and wavy lines, suggesting a maritime and cosmogonical dimension.

The absence of traces of vertical erosion indicates that the menhir was reversed shortly after its erection, probably intentionally. Its narrow location on the Rhuys peninsula, 250 m from the current shore, could make it a symbolic crossing site, according to the hypothesis of archaeologist Serge Cassen. The interpretations of engravings diverge: some see it as a lunar and divine association (Jacques Briard), while others prefer a land-sea representation (Cassen). These motifs, rare and well preserved thanks to the early fall of the menhir, make it a major testimony of Breton megalithic art.

The excavations and studies carried out since the 1990s, notably by Lecornec and Cassen, have documented these discoveries. The menhir, a mixed property (common and private), is now protected in its archaeological context, including the surrounding soil. Its recent restoration and protection underline its heritage importance, both for research and for the valorisation of megalithism in Brittany.

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