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Origin and history

The Menhir de Saint-Gonveld, also known as Menhir de Saint-Gonvarc'h or Menhir d'Argenton, is a 5.40 m high porphyroid granite block located in the municipality of Landunvez, Finistère. Its surface, regulated by boucharding, has a cupula of 13 cm in diameter on its western face. He is mentioned as Mez menhir on the cadastral plan of 1844, reflecting his recognized seniority.

Ranked as historical monuments in 1889, and then by decree of 27 May 1969, this menhir illustrates the importance of megalithic sites in Brittany. Its granite, typical of the Aber-Ildut, and its dimensions (1.60 m wide at the base for 0.90 m thick) make it a remarkable example of neolithic craftsmanship. The excavations and studies, such as those cited in Les megalithes de l'arrondissement de Brest (2009), underline its role in the local archaeological landscape.

The monument is part of a broader set of megalithic sites in Finistère, reflecting the cultural and religious practices of the Neolithic communities. Its successive classification and its mention in the cadastral archives of the 19th century attest to its early heritage value. Today, there remains a point of interest in the study of Breton megalithism and its stone-cutting techniques.

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