Cromlech de l’Œillet, Neolithic stone circle in Chausey archipelago, France
The Cromlech de l'Œillet is a megalithic stone circle made of around 40 granite blocks arranged in a flattened ring. The structure measures between 11.7 and 13.4 meters across and sits on an island within the Chausey archipelago.
The stone circle was built in prehistoric times, and the structure sank beneath the sea level between 4700 and 4100 BC. Archaeologists did not discover this submerged monument until 1994.
The stone circle reflects how early coastal communities shaped their surroundings and organized their space. It offers insight into the daily capabilities and knowledge of people from that distant period.
The stone circle is only accessible during low tide, as it becomes completely submerged at high tide. Visitors should check the tide tables and wear waterproof shoes, since the ground can be wet and slippery.
The stone circle sits in the tidal zone and belongs to a rare group of megalithic structures that get submerged and exposed daily by ocean movements. This constant cycle shapes how it looks and makes it especially challenging for archaeologists to study.
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