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Origin and history

The Menhir d'Irvit is a megalithic monument located in the commune of Plouescat in the Finistère department of Brittany. This block of granite of local origin, measuring 3.60 meters high, dates from Neolithic. It presents a bowl at its top, formed by natural erosion over the centuries. His documented history began in 1832 when he was first mentioned by the knight of Fréminville, a local scholar.

Ranked as historic monuments by order of 23 February 1921, the Menhir d'Irvit was officially protected. This classification recognizes its archaeological and cultural value, typical of Breton megalithic sites. The monument is also associated with a persistent folk tradition: according to local beliefs still attested in 1912, the menhir would have the property of ringing twelve blows at noon and midnight, a legend that illustrates the attachment of rural communities to these prehistoric remains.

From a scientific point of view, the menhir is listed in specialized inventories, such as that carried out by Yohann Sparfel and Yvan Pailler in 2011 for the Regional Service of Archaeology of Brittany. These studies highlight its integration into the network of megalithic sites in Finistère, a region particularly rich in remains of this period. Its precise address, 341 La Croix à Plouescat, and its cadastre (park AE 143) are documented in official databases, such as Mérimée.

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