Alignements du Ménec — Carnac
Ménec alignments · Stone Rows of Le Ménec · Cromlech du Ménec
Early to Middle Neolithic (c.4500–3000 BCE)·Carnac Neolithic (Castellic/Chasséen-derived Atlantic)·🇫🇷 Brittany, Morbihan, Carnac, Ménec hamlet, Trinité-sur-Mer road, France
About
About Alignements du Ménec — Carnac
Ménec (Early–Middle Neolithic c.4500–3000 BCE) is the westernmost and largest Carnac alignment: 11 parallel rows 1,167 m long with 1,099 menhirs descending from a western cromlech (egg-shaped 100 × 90 m of 70 stones) northeast over a gentle ridge above the Marais. Stones rise from 0.6 m east to 4 m west. Excavated by Zacharie Le Rouzic 1920s, Ménec's cromlech was invaded by 1930s houses, but the rows remain the densest Neolithic alignment globally. Inscribed 2025? Actually tentatively 1644 Megalithic Sites of Carnac, and center of Carnac Stones UNESCO tentative serial.
Why it mattersLargest stone-row system globally; defines Carnac alignment typology.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Why graded height west to east — solar?
Theories
- 01Cromlech as western sanctuary with rows as approach procession aligned to equinox sunrise
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- c.4500 BCE cromlech; rows c.4000–3500 BCE
- Period
- Early to Middle Neolithic (c.4500–3000 BCE)
- Culture
- Carnac Neolithic (Castellic/Chasséen-derived Atlantic)
- Builders
- Carnac Neolithic
- Purpose
- Processional avenues terminating in cromlech ritual enclosure
- Excavation
- Partially excavated
c.4500 BCE
Cromlech enclosure erected
c.4000–3500 BCE
11 rows 1,099 menhirs added descending ridge
1920–30
Le Rouzic excavations and restoration of fallen rows
1996
Megaliths of Carnac UNESCO tentative; visitor fencing
On the ground
Structures & features
47.5928° N · 3.0813° W · 20 m · 2 mapped features
Ménec Cromlech — Egg-Shaped Enclosure
cromlech100-m egg-shaped cromlech of 70 granite menhirs at western head of 11 rows, penetrated by two houses
47.5916° N · 3.0857° WMénec 11 Rows — Western Section
alignmentWestern 300 m of 11 parallel rows with 4-m tallest menhirs grading down to 1 m east
47.5930° N · 3.0820° W
Gallery