The Saint-Michel tumulus is a megalithic grave mound, located east of Carnac in Brittany, France. It is the largest grave mound in continental Europe.

History

The tumulus was built during the fifth millennium BC. It consists of a mound of earth and stones 125 metres (410 ft) long, 50 metres (160 ft) wide and 10 metres (33 ft) high. Explored in 1862, researchers found there a central vault containing fairly prestigious funerary furniture: axes, pearls, flint tools and sillimanite.

It has been classified as a "Monument historique" (National heritage site) since 1889.

Around 1900, the archaeologist Zacharie Le Rouzic [fr] again excavated the Saint-Michel tumulus and discovered a second dolmen and fifteen small stone chests, thus revealing the complexity of this monument.

Gallery

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
  Saint-Michel tumulus plan by Zacharie Le Rouzic [fr]
• 
  Excavation entrance to the tumulus
• 
  Finds from the Saint-Michel tumulus
• 
  Jade axes from the tumulus
• 
  Callais necklace from the tumulus
• 
  Broken stone axes from the tumulus