Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The covered lane of the Couette is a megalithic monument located in Ploufragan, in the department of Côtes-d-Armor in Brittany. Dated from Neolithic, this funerary site consists of 28 orthostats (vertical pads) and 13 dolerite cover tables, forming a 16-metre-long elongated structure. The excavations carried out in 1854 revealed archaeological remains, including a cinemar urn, polished axes, bone and stone beads, as well as a bronze spear fragment, attesting to a re-use in Gallo-Roman times.

The monument was classified as historic monuments on April 18, 1914, recognizing its heritage value. The writer and inspector of historical monuments Prosper Mérimée visited the site in 1836, stressing its early importance. The south-east facing gangway has an inner width of 1.20 metres and a height of 1.10 metres, with a bedside slab marking its northwest end. These characteristics are a typical example of the Neolithic collective burials in the region.

Objects discovered during excavations, including flint tools such as harpoons, suggest complex funeral and artisanal practices. The presence of bronze indicates an occupation or re-appropriation of the site well after its initial construction, illustrating its sustainable role in the local landscape. Today, the monument remains a key testimony of Breton megalithic traditions and their evolution through the ages.

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