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Origin and history

The Tumulus de Réunionou, located in Berrien, Brittany, is a funeral monument dating from the Protohistory. Stunned at the beginning of the 20th century, it contains a vault 2.70 m long, 1.90 m wide and 1.70 m high, where a skeleton and objects accompanying the deceased were discovered. This type of structure illustrates the funeral rites of the era, with collective or individual burials marked by artificial terres.

The chapel of Sainte-Catherine, although mentioned in the source text, does not seem directly related to the tumulus, but it offers a local historical context. Built from the 15th century, it was modified in the 17th and 19th centuries, reflecting the architectural and religious evolution of the region. The tumulus remains a key archaeological vestige for understanding Breton protohistoric societies.

The site was listed as a Historic Monument by order of 3 April 1996, thus protecting the tumulus and its immediate environment (soil and basement). This protection underscores its heritage and scientific importance, although the details of its exact use or its relationship with the local communities of the time remain partial.

The excavations carried out at the beginning of the twentieth century partially documented the funerary furniture, but the source text does not specify the exact nature of these objects or their fate. The tumulus, typical of megalithic or protohistoric constructions, may have served as a territorial marker or place of worship for local populations.

Unlike the chapel of Sainte-Catherine, whose history is well documented (transformations in the 17th and 19th centuries, supposed patronage of the lords of Tymeur or the family of Lamprat), the tumulus of Réunionou does not benefit from contemporary written sources. His study is therefore based mainly on archaeological data and comparisons with other similar sites in Brittany.

Today, Réunionou's tumulus is a silent testimony of the funeral and social practices of Protohistory. Its registration as a Historical Monuments in 1996 guarantees its preservation, but its accessibility and tourist exploitation are not detailed in the available sources. The approximate location (5 Rue du Château d'Eau, Berrien) suggests a rural site, typical of protohistoric settlements distant from modern urban centres.

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