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Origin and history

The neolithic tumulus known as the Butte du Hu is part of the necropolis of Ernes-Condé, situated on horseback in the communes of Condé-sur-Ifs and Ernes, Calvados. This archaeological site includes two large tumuli, including the Butte du Hu, as well as six corridor tombs. The excavations, initiated in 1833 by F. Galeron, revealed ten skeletons in the Butte du Hu, accompanied by fragments of pottery. In 1847, Mr. Bellivet explored the second tumulus, discovering eleven burials, and published his report in 1844. These monuments, built with local limestone slabs, have a homogeneous architecture, with rooms accessible by straight corridors.

A search campaign carried out from 1985 onwards revealed the six corridor graves, which are now arid by tillage, located near the tumuli. These tombs, initially compact, housed about forty individuals, whose bodies were deposited behind the walls. Their modest funerary furniture includes shell beads, flint tools and ceramic teasses attributed to the Middle Neolithic. The layout of monuments and their varying size may reflect a social hierarchy within the Neolithic community.

The Butte du Hu was classified as historical monuments on November 13, 1974. Genetic studies of 12 skeletons of tomb C revealed the lack of maternal connection between these individuals, suggesting a complex social organization. The materials used, hard limestone and soft limestone, come from a quarry situated between the two tumuli. The sepulchral chambers, covered by corbellation or vaulted, bear witness to advanced architectural techniques for the time.

Tumuli and corridor tombs, rounded in shape, measure between 10 and 20 meters in diameter. Their internal structure, consisting of slabs and platelets, was initially covered with earth, forming terres up to 5 metres high. Grave A, a particular, houses two interlocking sepulchral chambers (A1 and A2), probably built simultaneously. These funeral monuments illustrate the ritual and social practices of the Neolithic communities in the region.

Excavations also revealed a variety of paved soils, ranging from padding (tomb B and E) to medium-sized slabs (tomb D). The necropolis as a whole was said to have received about 70 burials, an average of a dozen per room. Funeral furniture, though poor, offers clues to the beliefs and craft practices of the time, such as the use of shell beads or flint tools.

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