Gavrinis, Passage tomb on Gavrinis Island, Gulf of Morbihan, France.
Gavrinis is a megalithic burial chamber on an island in the Gulf of Morbihan with a 14-meter-long stone passage lined by 23 carved slabs. The structure consists of a stone mound with a central chamber covered by a heavy capstone.
The monument was built between 4200 and 4000 BCE during the Neolithic period and served as a burial place for over a thousand years. Around 3000 BCE, its entrance was sealed and the site was abandoned.
The carved stones display axes, staffs, and geometric patterns that reflect the artistic skill of Neolithic people. You can see these carvings directly on the chamber walls and notice how carefully each design was created by hand.
The island is only accessible by boat from the harbor in Larmor-Baden, a journey of about 15 minutes. Visits take place in guided groups, which allows you to explore all parts of the stone mound and chamber.
The stone mound spans about 50 meters across and is considerably larger than other similar monuments in the region. The chamber's ceiling slab weighs about 17 tons, showing how advanced the building techniques of that time were.
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