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Origin and history

Minhir Menhir, also known as Crec'h-Coulm, is an imposing monolith erected during the Neolithic period, located in the Breton commune of Pédernec, in the Côtes-d'Armor department. With an aboveground height of 6.75 metres and a width of 4.30 metres and a thickness of 1.60 metres, it has three large cavities on its southwest face. Its Breton name, Min-hir, means "long stone", reflecting its characteristic shape. At its summit, a statue of Saint Peter, now extinct, was fixed in the 19th century, as evidenced by a metal bar still visible.

Excavations at the end of the 19th century revealed that the menhir was buried 3.90 metres deep. They discovered significant artifacts: a polished axe, ceramic teasses, human bones (including an entire femur) and charcoal. According to a description by Jollivet in 1856, the menhir was part of a larger megalithic complex, including an elliptical enclosure oriented north-south, girded by a ditch. Twelve blocks of stone in semi-circle bound an elevated esplanade to the north, while seven other blocks closed the semi-circle to the south, where the menhir stood.

Ranked as historical monuments since 1889, the Minhir Menhir illustrates the importance of megalithic constructions in Breton Neolithic culture. Its state of conservation and the remains discovered during the excavations offer valuable insight into the funeral and ritual practices of that time. The site, although partially altered by time, remains a major testimony to the prehistoric heritage of the region.

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