Allée sépulcrale de la Cave aux Fées, Neolithic gallery grave in Brueil-en-Vexin, France
The Allée sépulcrale de la Cave aux Fées is a prehistoric gallery grave extending roughly 14 meters underground, with walls built from large vertical sandstone slabs separated by limestone filling. The chamber was originally covered to create a fully enclosed burial space within the earth.
This burial structure was built during the Stone Age as a communal tomb where many people were laid to rest over generations. The site shows how prehistoric communities maintained collective burial practices and honored their deceased through monumental architecture.
The name Cave aux Fées comes from local folklore about fairies supposedly dwelling in this underground chamber. Such legends reveal how communities long explained prehistoric structures through mythology before archaeologists understood their true purpose as burial places.
Access to the site is restricted and visitors should check opening conditions beforehand to plan their visit appropriately. It is wise to wear weatherproof clothing since the underground chamber remains damp and the ground can be slippery.
The structure consists of 16 large stone slabs carefully arranged to form a stable chamber, with the sandstone blocks sourced from nearby deposits. These massive stones were positioned with remarkable precision using only Stone Age tools and methods.
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