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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The alignments of the Bois du Duc, located in Spézet in Brittany, are a megalithic site dated from the Neolithic. Originally, this set extended for about 80 metres along a north-south axis, including erect and lying menhirs, mainly in shale and sandstone. The site has been partially damaged over the centuries, notably by road constructions and stone movements.

In 1901, archaeologist Paul du Châtellier reported a menhir 5 meters high and the discovery of a bronze axe at its base. In 1913, A. Jarno completed this description by identifying an alignment of nine menhirs, some with engraved cupules. The site was classified as a historic monument in 1923, but subsequent disturbances, such as the construction of a road in 1968, altered its structure.

In 1944, an attempt to donate a overthrown menhir to the Archaeological Society of Finistère failed, leading to its acquisition for 500 francs. In 1958, work revealed a set of dolmens and menhirs, but the acquired menhir was finally moved in 1968. In 1986, an engraved stone, similar to that of alignment, was identified in a private garden in Spézet, confirming the initial extent of the site.

The stones still visible today include four menhirs, three of which lie between 3 and 4 meters. Their shale and sandstone composition, as well as engraved cupules, testify to ritual or symbolic practices of Neolithic. The site remains a significant example of Breton megalithism, despite the alterations experienced over the centuries.

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