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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The Kerlescan tumulus, also known as the Kerlescan Tumular Tertrine, is a megalithic monument located in Carnac, Morbihan. It lies between the megalithic enclosure of Kerlescan (the so-called "northern cromlech") and the western alignment of Kerlescan, sometimes mistakenly called "south cromlech". This site, 98 meters long and 15 meters wide, is surrounded by a enclosure of small blocks of stone. It was partially searched and restored in 1926 by Zacharie Le Rouzic, who discovered five funeral chests, including an unexplored central office before 1942.

The excavations conducted by Le Rouzic in 1926 revealed four chests containing neolithic artifacts: a fibrolith polished axe, pottery fragments and flint fragments. The fifth chest, searched in 1942 by Friedrich Walbrug under the German occupation, was 1.70 m long and was surrounded by two stone circles interpreted as fireplaces. A second, smaller fireplace was identified nearby, as well as a 40-metre-long platform with about fifteen homes. The soil under the tumulus had been equalized and covered with a layer of earth, while lithic tools and pottery were found between the cairn stones.

The site was classified as historic monuments on 19 June 1931, after its restoration. In 1941-1942 Friedrich Walbrug, commissioned by the Reichsbund, conducted additional excavations on the unrestored parts of the tumulus, as well as on menhirs of neighbouring alignments. This work, carried out with the support of Maurice Jacq, allowed to complete the knowledge of the funeral and ritual practices of the site. The artifacts discovered include quartzite tools, millstones, polishers and charcoals, demonstrating an organized human occupation around this monument.

Kerlescan's tumulus illustrates the importance of megalithic sites in the cultural landscape of Neolithic in Brittany. Its complex structure, combining funeral chests, homes and enclosures, suggests collective practices related to ancestor worship or community rituals. The successive excavations highlighted the technicality of the builders, able to build sustainable monuments and integrate them into a larger megalithic complex, characteristic of the region of Carnac.

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