The overall view of the site with tumulus 2 in the foreground. The completely rebuilt chamber 1 is shown next to the partially rebuilt chamber 2. The excavated but not re-built areas of chambers 3 and 4 can be seen on the far left.
Overall view of the site from the trackway leading to the road
Plan showing overall position of chambers and the unexcavated tumulus 2 which is thought to be the oldest part of the site.
The side of the monument looking towards chamber 2. The area to the left is the excavated but not re-built areas of chambers 3 and 4.
The passage to Chamber 2 looking square on
The cap stone roof of chamber 2 has been removed to show construction technique used with dry stone walling and flat stone blocks.
The cap stone roof of chamber 2 has been removed to show construction technique used with dry stone walling and flat stone blocks
The cap stones forming the roof of the passage to chamber 2
The entrance to chamber 2
Looking into chamber 2 and the passage. The roof of the chamber has been removed to show the construction technique used.
Looking into chamber 2 showing the height of the entrance passage
View of the dry stone walling and stone facades in chamber 1
Chamber 1 interior
Passage leading into chamber 1
View from the passage looking out from the entrance to chamber 1
View from the passage leading into chamber 1
Location Plan for Tumulus du Montioux
Information board for Tumulus du Montioux
Tumulus du Montioux – Sainte Soline
Visited 15 September 2008
This was the final site we visited in the Poitiers region and the nearest to Chaunay where we were staying. The site lies south of Poitiers on the N10 by Chaunay. Turn right at Chaunay then take the D55 to Str-Soline. Turn right again to Bonneul and the site is in a field on the left.
The site is sign posted; and was partly excavated in 1995. It dates from the bronze to Iron age (1800 – 500 BC).Finds include ceramics, flint tools and a sepulchre was discovered under a stone slab. The site consists of a single, unexcavated round barrow and a 50 m long mound with four funeral chambers. See site plan. These date from the Angoumois period and have an Atlantic type layout with a 11 m long corridor with polygonal Cambers.
The walls of the access corridor are composed of pillars alternating with dry stonewalls, but unlike West Kennet Long Barrow, the end chambers have been left open so the feeling of a confined space is lost.
The oldest of the group appears to be the unexcavated round barrow.
English linked translation of the Monuments de France page for Tumulus du Montioux
Site with more pictures of Tumulus du Montioux
Note:
Web site also includes pictures and info on other local sites including Tumuli de Bougon and Boxie
