The Megaliths of Carnac

Engraved Stones

Many megaliths are engraved, especially stones inside dolmen in tumuli. The most common motives are the axe or axe-plough, circles with projecting rays (perhaps representing the sun or moon), arcs, chevrons serpentines, hooks, torsos and cup marks. These symbols are used at Megalithic sites from Scandinavia to the Canary Islands.

The map below shows the location of sites with engraved stones in the district around Carnac and the Gulf of Morbihan. More engraved stones are being found every year as sites are renovated. A lot of work has been done over the last 10 years.

Click on map to see enlargement

Gavr'Inis	Tumulus on island in Gulf of Morbihan Best carvings in the Carnac/Locmariaquer area 23 of the 29 upright passage and chamber stones are carved, as well as the chamber capstone Capstone is a piece of the same stone used as a capstone in the Marchand's Table Most of the stones are decorated with swirls (look like fingerprints) and most have been smoothed before carved. Some also have wedges and one or two have been carved over quite rough and broken surfaces The last photo was taken in 1983, our first visit to Gavr'Inis, and shows one of the stones in the end chamber. As well as the carved patterns, there are 3 deep holes gouged in the rock About 6000 years old
Grah Niaul	Covered alley north of Arzon near northwest end of Rhys peninsula Engravings on several stones of hooks (photo), circles, and serpentines
Le Grand Menhir Brisé	Locmariaquer, beside La Table de Marchand and Er Groh tumuli Axe carved on underside of second from bottom piece (piece at right in photo)
Ile Longue	On island west of Gavr'Inis Dolmen with engraved stones
Kercado	Tumulus northeast of Carnac Engraved capstone - axe with handle
Le Moustoir	Tumulus north of Kermario alignments, north of Carnac Engraved axe with handle
Kerveresse	Northwest of Locmariaquer Cup mark engravings
Luffang	West of Crac'h Angled passage dolmen with engraved stones Stones are covered with moss and engravings difficult to see
Mané er Hroeck	Tumulus on southeast of Locmariaquer Several axes
Mané Kerioned	Group of 3 dolmen 3 km northeast of Plouharnel Passage stones in western of 3 dolmens are engraved with hooks, chevrons, serpentines and torsos
Mané Lud	Dolmen in Locmariaquer, north of La Table de Marchand Several engraved passage and chamber stones: boats? face? Backstone engraving may be a mother goddess (lower photo)
Mané Rutual	In Locmariaquer, just south of La Table de Marchand Simple passage dolmen with engraved upright stones
Le Manio	Large menhir near east end of Kermario alignments, northeast of Carnac Parallel serpentine engravings at bottom of stone below ground level
Menhir de Kermaillard	Large menhir near Le Net between Arzon and Sargeau on the Rhys peninsula Called Scalehir (lump of butter) Cup marks, crescent and square (torso?, stylized goddess?)
Penhap	Dolmen on Ile-aux-Moines, island in Gulf of Morbihan east of Gavr'Inis Several axes
Le Petit Mont	Tumulus on southwest corner of Rhys peninsula One of at least three passage tombs is engraved
Les Pièrre Plates	Covered alley-type dolmen (angled passage) on coast south of Locmariaquer Several of the upright passage stones are engraved with several different torso designs There are cup marks on "menhir" (really a lintel) at entrance
Le Rocher	Tumulus southwest of Le Bono on east bank of Rivière d'Auray Engraved stones in angled passage dolmen
Rondossec	Northern outskirts of Plouharnel Central of 3 dolmen is engraved.
Runesto	1 and 1/2 km northeast of Plouharnel Capstone is engraved
La Table de Marchand (Marchand's/Merchants Table	Tumulus in Locmariaquer beside Er Groh tumulus and Le Grand Menhir Brisé Backstone of chamber is covered with hook pattern (grain?). The back of this stone is also carved. A vandal has carved his name GAZELLI into the carved backstone Capstone is engraved with an axe and animal (antelope?). This stone, the capstone in Er Groh, and the capstone in Gavr'Inis are all part of a 14-meter long, intentionally broken stone which was engraved before it was broken.

All photographs were taken by myself, during trips to the megaliths of Carnac in 1980, 1983, 1994, 1998, and 2002. All photographs are my property and may not be copied or used without my written permission.

Table of Contents

Introduction

Types of Megaliths
of Carnac

• Alignments
• Stone Circles
• Dolmen
• Tumuli
• Standing Stones
• Engravings

Databank

Links