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Origin and history

The Menhir de Mez-Kerlard, also named Menhir de Kervédan or Men-Hoat, is an emblematic megalithic vestige of the island of Groix, in Morbihan. This 1.30 m high monument, buried on 1.50 m in what could be a tomb, is distinguished by its cups carved on all its faces. Its classification as historical monuments by order of 25 March 1970 underlines its heritage importance, after excavations conducted by L. Le Pontois.

The neolithic period, to which this menhir belongs, marks in Brittany an era of profound social and technical transformations, with the emergence of agriculture, breeding and sedentarization. Megaliths, such as that of Mez-Kerlard, bear witness to the funeral and symbolic practices of the communities of the time, often linked to the cult of ancestors or territorial landmarks. Their location on islands like Groix also suggests a role in maritime and cultural exchanges along the Atlantic coast.

Menhir, sometimes described as "small" because of its modest size compared to other regional examples, illustrates the diversity of megalithic expressions in Brittany. Its state of conservation and the presence of cupulas – artificial cavities whose meaning remains debated – make it a subject of study for archaeologists. The research, as cited in Philippe Gouézin (2007), highlights its integration into a wider network of megalithic sites on the Morbihan coast, reflecting a dense and organized human occupation during the Neolithic period.

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