page_title: Carnac stones
section_title: Dolmens
hierarchical_section_title: Carnac stones / Alignments / Dolmens
caption_attribution_description: Dolmen near Carnac, France, known as "Roch-Feutet" (inscription in photo), or "er-Roc'h-Feutet" (tourist map). Taken by me.
context_page_description: The Carnac stones are the largest collection of megalithic standing stones in the world. The more than 3,000 prehistoric standing stones were cut from local rock and erected by the pre-Celtic people of Brittany.
  The stones were erected at some stage during the Neolithic period, probably around 3300 BC, but some may be as old as 4500 BC. The stones occur in a number of Neolithic sites around the French village of Carnac, in Brittany. They include rows of stones, dolmens, tumuli and single menhirs.
  In recent centuries, many of the sites have been neglected, with reports of dolmens being used as sheep shelters, chicken sheds or even ovens. Stones have been removed to make way for roads, or used as building materials. The management of the sites is a controversial topic.
context_section_description: There are several dolmens scattered around the area. These dolmens are generally considered to have been tombs, however the acidic soil of Brittany has eroded away the bones. They were constructed with several large stones supporting a "capstone", then buried under a mound of earth. In many cases, the mound is no longer present, sometimes due to archeological excavation, and only the large stones remain, in various states of ruin.
  Er-Roc'h-Feutet: North, near the Chapelle de La Madelaine. Has a completely covered roof.
  La Madelaine:47.6208°N 3.0482°W A large dolmen measuring 12 by 5 m (39 by 16 ft), with a 5 m (16 ft) long broken capstone. It is named after the nearby Chapelle de La Madelaine, which is still used.
  Kercado: A rare dolmen still covered by its original cairn. South of the Kermario alignments, it is 25 to 30 metres (82–98 ft) wide, 5 m (16 ft) high, and has a small menhir on top. Previously surrounded by a circle of small menhirs 4 m (13 ft) out, the main passage is 6.5 m (21 ft) long and leads to a large chamber where numerous artifacts were found, including axes, pearls, arrow heads and pottery. It was constructed around 4600 BC and used for approximately 3,000 years.
  Mané Brizil
  Kerlescan: A roughly rectangular mound, with only one capstone remaining. It is aligned east-to-west, with a passage entrance to the south.
  Kermarquer: On a small hill, has two separate chambers.
  Mané-Kerioned (Pixies' mound or Grotte de Grionnec): A group of three dolmens with layout unique in Brittany,  once covered by a tumulus. Whereas most groups of dolmens are parallel, these are arranged in a horse shoe. The largest of the three is at the east, 11 metres (36 ft).
  Crucuno: A "classic" dolmen, with a 40 tonne, 7.6 metre tablestone resting on pillars roughly 1.8 m (5 ft 11 in) high. Prior to 1900, it was connected by a passage making it 24m long.
caption: The dolmen Er-Roc'h-Feutet. An inscription next to every standing stone formation proclaims ownership by the state of France.
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