Menhir erection 4500 - 2000 av. J.-C. (≈ 3250 av. J.-C.)
Neolithic period, construction by the first agricultural societies.
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui Aujourd'hui (≈ 2025)
Position de référence.
Key figures
Communautés néolithiques - Anonymous builders
Suspected perpetrators of menhirs, sedentary agricultural societies.
Archéologues locaux - Researchers and protectors
Study and preserve sites since the 19th century.
Origin and history
The Menhir du Closet de l'Amas and the Long Stone of Plenée-Jugon are two megalithic monuments characteristic of Neolithic (between 4500 and 2000 BC). Their erection is attributed to the sedentary agricultural communities of the time, which thus marked their territory or paid homage to deities or ancestors.
These erect stones, typical of Brittany, are part of a wider network of regional megalithic sites. At that time, Brittany was a major focus of European megalithic culture, with an exceptional concentration of dolmens, menhirs and alignments. Menhirs, often associated with funeral or astronomical rites, reflect an organized society and advanced engineering knowledge.
Their implantation probably reflected symbolic or practical logics, such as landmarks in the landscape. No major transformation of these menhirs has been documented since their erection, although some may have been displaced or reused over the millennia. Their preservation until today is due to their isolation in rural areas, protecting them from massive destruction at other sites.
Their present state remains close to their original form, despite natural erosion. The menhirs of Plénée-Jugon have no direct connection to written historical events, but they bear witness to the spiritual and social practices of the first Breton peasant societies. Their persistence in the landscape makes them strong identity markers for local communities, long before the arrival of the Celts or Romans in Armoric.
Today, these menhirs are protected under the Historical Monuments (registration or classification as appropriate), guaranteeing their conservation. They attract archaeology and prehistory enthusiasts, while remaining anchored in Breton collective memory. Their study contributes to a better understanding of Atlantic megalithic networks, shared with regions such as Ireland and Wales.
Their current vocation is primarily heritage and educational. Explanatory panels or guided tours are sometimes offered to raise public awareness of their historical importance. These silent stones continue to fascinate, carrying riddles about beliefs and organizing neolithic societies.
