Saint-Michel tumulus

The Tumulus of St. Michel ( not to be confused with the Mont -Saint -Michel ) is located east of the town of Carnac in Brittany. It is the largest grave mound of continental Europe. Since there probably is not a grave mound at Silbury Hill, the Tumulus of St. Michel probably the largest grave mound in Europe.

The tumulus is 125 m long, 60 m wide and about 10 meters high and runs in an east -west direction. The upper deck has a length of 75 m. The hill has an elongated oval stone core ( Galgal called ) above the clay layer is a powerful, while the hill surface is made of stones. The tumulus is the most visible eponymous chapel from the 17th century, in which only on September 1st of each year takes place a fair.

In the center of the tumulus a central, closed on all sides megalithic chamber was exposed. On the floor of flat stones were burned human bones. 39 stone axes (many of jadeite and Fibrolite ) infected with the cutting edge facing upwards in the soil. Furthermore, it hid ten trailers and a chain with 97 beads from Callais and the remains of a pearl necklace from a kind of ivory. 13 small stone boxes are arranged all around. They contained remains of burned and unburned animal bones. South of the main chamber is a slightly smaller chamber with pre-built gear (or a pre-chamber ). All facilities are surrounded by a circular wall, which turns into a false vault.

In order to investigate the hill, next to the cross passages also a tunnel was driven longitudinally through the hills. It was discovered at the eastern end (outside the Galgal ) a chamber with access to the north. Your four cover plates were supported by eight supporting stones. The floor was paved with pebbles. Found two clay pots, a small bronze bell (possibly from the Hallstatt period ), Silexabschläge and charcoal. It is a later Nachbestattung.