Cairn de Gavrinis, Neolithic passage tomb on Gavrinis Island, Larmor-Baden, France.
The cairn de Gavrinis is a stone burial monument with a narrow passage around 14 meters long leading to a central chamber supported by 29 large stones. The entire structure spans about 50 meters across and was built by stacking countless stones to protect this inner chamber.
The monument was built around 3500 BCE and originally served as a burial place for the community. After roughly 3000 BCE, it fell out of use, and sand and earth gradually covered it until it resembled a natural hill.
The interior walls display carved patterns showing animals and weapons, revealing how people in this era depicted their world. Walking through the narrow passage, visitors can observe these engravings directly along the stone surfaces.
The site is reached only by boat from Larmor-Baden, with the crossing taking about 10 minutes and operating during warmer months. Visits to the interior are organized through guided tours, allowing you to see the chamber and passage without spending much time outdoors.
The ceiling slab weighs about 17 tons and is supported by 50 massive stones beneath it, showing remarkable engineering skill from ancient times. This stable system has held firm for thousands of years without requiring repairs.
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