A stone stands still, almost skulking in the brush and scrub. Behind this are the low remains of what were four rows, “perhaps 68 metres long from N to S and 36 metres wide.” Burl, ibid. I found maybe 10 stones – there may be more remaining, obscured by brambles and stuff.
Remains of a forgotten Carnac alignment.
“100 metres to the south of the passage-grave are the dilapidated survivors of four rows of standing stones.” Aubrey Burl, Megalithic Brittany, page 151
Dilapidated and difficult to find, as they are well overgrown and almost forgotten, even since Moth’s picture of 11 years ago earlier in this site. Trees and scrub hide these sad reminders.
The north-west transept – any one of these would be impressive individually, but to have five in one monument simply encapsulates the Brittany experience.
From behind to the end-cell/chamber.
North-west transept.
From the east towards the passage with the ruined south-east transept to the left.
End chamber with massive capstone.
“The capstone of the SE chamber has fallen inwards and is now tilted against the rear stones which have fallen outwards.” Aubrey Burl, Megalithic Brittany, page 151
Pay, if you like.
Saturday 24 April 2005
Saturday 24 April 2005
Saturday 24 April 2005
Saturday 24 April 2005
Saturday 24 April 2005
Saturday 24 April 2005 This is a deceptively big but compact structure
Saturday 24 April 2005 The standing stone(s) you forget all about once you see the trancepted passage grave!
Parking is on the D768, right next to the Mane Kerioned Dolmen complex. But then you need to cross the busy road and then walk off down the road that turns off the D768, for about 100 yards. looking for a track going off to the left and a hand written fading sign saying Dolmens. Follow the main track straight to the honesty box covered dolmen.
The evening light was shining through the trees and the bird life was going for it vocally, the burial chamber was oh so good, but, good lord but the kids aren’t half messing about. If we were at Stonehenge they’d have chucked us out, but we’re not, we’re in some woods completely alone, the stones are ours, all ours.
There is enough of it to make it quite an easy matter of recreating the whole edifice in ones imagination. You could remove a few more stones and then you’d have three quite perfect dolmens, the kind they have in Wales and Cornwall. One of the capstones is very large, reminding me of Browne’s dolmen in Ireland, it’s not that big but it does remind me.
Soon the kids have tired them selves out and lain down on the grass, I take my photos and get under the capstones, job done. Lets go and see some more.
Just metres away from Dolmens de Mane Kerioned across the Roman road and down a muddy track are the Dolmens de Kerival. This was my first transepted dolmen; four side chambers and an end chamber off a main passage.
Most intriguing. Kerioned and Kerival must have been two parts of the same site at one time, referencing each other in the landscape before being bisected by the road.
