Kercado cairn, Neolithic burial monument in Carnac, France
The Kercado cairn is a circular mound of dry-laid stones, about 30 metres across and 3.5 metres high, with a stone facing wall around its base. A passage 7.5 metres long, lined with nine upright stones, leads to a rectangular chamber 2.9 by 3 metres and 2.3 metres high. A single rounded menhir stands on the summit.
The burial site was built during the Neolithic period and served as a cemetery for multiple generations across long time spans. Excavations in the 19th and 20th centuries uncovered artifacts showing that the location remained in use for over a thousand years.
The burial chamber displays geometric carvings and a ceiling slab with a carved symbol of an axe shape, showing the artistic skills of Neolithic people.
The site sits near the road to Trinité-sur-Mer and remains open to visitors year-round. It is wise to wear sturdy footwear and be cautious during rainy weather, as the stones can become slippery.
The upright stone on the summit was set there by Zacharie Le Rouzic during his 1925 restoration, a move later criticised as excessive. The chamber's ceiling slab carries a carved axe-plough motif, and its unusual placement suggests the slab was a standing stone broken up and reused.
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