Phil Watson
@frenchmegaliths.bsky.social
Field work in Iraq for 5 years, 34 years curating ancient Egyptian, Near Eastern, Pre-Columbian American and Prehistoric antiquities. Since retiring have been publishing my collection of old French postcards of Megaliths (see pinned post).
Pinned
Volumes 1-9 available on Amazon sites at £10.99 each (or local currency equivalent plus any taxes).
Before its restoration in the 1980s the well-known passage grave of La Table des Marchands in Locmariaquer (Morbihan) was exposed due to early quarrying of the cairn. This card shows the terminal slab on the left and the passage on the right. #TombTuesday.
November 25, 2025 at 9:06 AM
Before its restoration in the 1980s the well-known passage grave of La Table des Marchands in Locmariaquer (Morbihan) was exposed due to early quarrying of the cairn. This card shows the terminal slab on the left and the passage on the right. #TombTuesday.
This card gives a good sense of the extent of the 1,000 plus menhirs arranged in 11 rows stretching for over a kilometre which form the alignments at Menec in Carnac (Morbihan). The 2 women sit on the ringing stone at the W end. Card by Denot in Lorient c.1905.
November 24, 2025 at 8:49 AM
This card gives a good sense of the extent of the 1,000 plus menhirs arranged in 11 rows stretching for over a kilometre which form the alignments at Menec in Carnac (Morbihan). The 2 women sit on the ringing stone at the W end. Card by Denot in Lorient c.1905.
The Menhir de la Lèque in Lussan (Gard) is 5.6m tall. It Is also known as Pierre Plantée, one of several menhirs which in tradition had grown from seeds. A chunk out of one edge is from C19 attempts to break it up. #StandingStoneSunday.
November 23, 2025 at 9:27 AM
The Menhir de la Lèque in Lussan (Gard) is 5.6m tall. It Is also known as Pierre Plantée, one of several menhirs which in tradition had grown from seeds. A chunk out of one edge is from C19 attempts to break it up. #StandingStoneSunday.
La Pierre Maupertuis in Lhomme (Sarthe) is a simple dolmen with a capstone supported on 7 orthostats. This card c.1905 by Cocu in Château-du-Loir.
November 22, 2025 at 9:03 AM
La Pierre Maupertuis in Lhomme (Sarthe) is a simple dolmen with a capstone supported on 7 orthostats. This card c.1905 by Cocu in Château-du-Loir.
The menhir of La Pierre Longue de Sale-Village in St-Georges-des-Sept-Voies (Maine-et-Loire) is 5.5m tall. In one tradition it was Gargantua’s whetstone. The woman on the right is holding a sickle which maybe needed sharpening after cutting the crop in her apron….
November 21, 2025 at 8:35 AM
The menhir of La Pierre Longue de Sale-Village in St-Georges-des-Sept-Voies (Maine-et-Loire) is 5.5m tall. In one tradition it was Gargantua’s whetstone. The woman on the right is holding a sickle which maybe needed sharpening after cutting the crop in her apron….
The site of Les Mousseaux in Pornic (Loire-Atlantique) has 2 transepted passage graves set in one mound. This card from c.1905 shows the southern tomb before the site was restored in the 1970s.
November 20, 2025 at 8:59 AM
The site of Les Mousseaux in Pornic (Loire-Atlantique) has 2 transepted passage graves set in one mound. This card from c.1905 shows the southern tomb before the site was restored in the 1970s.
The menhir of La Pierre du Domaine (aka Château Beaufort) in Plerguer (Ille-et-Vilaine) is made of fine-grained granite, has a rhomboidal section and stands just over 4m tall. Card by Sorel in Rennes c.1916.
November 19, 2025 at 8:32 AM
The menhir of La Pierre du Domaine (aka Château Beaufort) in Plerguer (Ille-et-Vilaine) is made of fine-grained granite, has a rhomboidal section and stands just over 4m tall. Card by Sorel in Rennes c.1916.
The allée couverte at Mougau-Bihan in Commana (Finistère) has an 11m long chamber with an open terminal cell at the end. Six of the orthostats have decoration. The entire hamlet seems to have turned out to pose on this card by Léon, a jeweller in Landivisiau. #TombTuesday.
November 18, 2025 at 8:35 AM
The allée couverte at Mougau-Bihan in Commana (Finistère) has an 11m long chamber with an open terminal cell at the end. Six of the orthostats have decoration. The entire hamlet seems to have turned out to pose on this card by Léon, a jeweller in Landivisiau. #TombTuesday.
Le Grand Menhir Brisé in Locmariaquer (Morbihan) when intact would have stood 20m tall and weighed an estimated 300 tons. The 4 fragments laid in a row are very impressive but its true immensity is only realised when you look at the cross section of the lowest fragment.
November 17, 2025 at 9:00 AM
Le Grand Menhir Brisé in Locmariaquer (Morbihan) when intact would have stood 20m tall and weighed an estimated 300 tons. The 4 fragments laid in a row are very impressive but its true immensity is only realised when you look at the cross section of the lowest fragment.
The “giant” in the alignments at Menec in Carnac (Morbihan) is 4m tall and stands among smaller menhirs in the 4th row about 150m from the W end. One face is crazed and crackled, the other smoother but uneven. #StandingStoneSunday.
November 16, 2025 at 8:37 AM
The “giant” in the alignments at Menec in Carnac (Morbihan) is 4m tall and stands among smaller menhirs in the 4th row about 150m from the W end. One face is crazed and crackled, the other smoother but uneven. #StandingStoneSunday.
The Peyrelevade in Vaour (Tarn) is the biggest dolmen in the département. The 4x2.9m capstone had broken in two by late C19 as had one of the 2 broad (3.7 and 3.5m wide) orthostats as shown on this card by Guilhem c. 1905.
November 15, 2025 at 8:39 AM
The Peyrelevade in Vaour (Tarn) is the biggest dolmen in the département. The 4x2.9m capstone had broken in two by late C19 as had one of the 2 broad (3.7 and 3.5m wide) orthostats as shown on this card by Guilhem c. 1905.
The cylindrical menhir of La Pierre au Diable in Jullouville (Manche) is 3m tall and 7m in circumference at the base. In one tradition the groove across the face is from the chain the Devil used to drag it there. Card by Puel c.1905.
November 14, 2025 at 9:09 AM
The cylindrical menhir of La Pierre au Diable in Jullouville (Manche) is 3m tall and 7m in circumference at the base. In one tradition the groove across the face is from the chain the Devil used to drag it there. Card by Puel c.1905.
No this isn’t just a pile of rocks! It’s the simple dolmen of La Pierre Chaude in Paulmy (Indre-et-Loire). It has a 2.6m capstone which has slipped due to the collapse of some of the 6 orthostats which form a polygonal chamber. The fairies who built it would not be pleased!
November 13, 2025 at 8:28 AM
No this isn’t just a pile of rocks! It’s the simple dolmen of La Pierre Chaude in Paulmy (Indre-et-Loire). It has a 2.6m capstone which has slipped due to the collapse of some of the 6 orthostats which form a polygonal chamber. The fairies who built it would not be pleased!
The menhir of Camp de César in Avrillé (Vendée) is the tallest in the département at 7m above ground with another 1.7m below and an estimated weight of 85 tons. This has given it the alternative name of “Roi des Menhirs”. Card by Dugas c.1904.
November 12, 2025 at 9:01 AM
The menhir of Camp de César in Avrillé (Vendée) is the tallest in the département at 7m above ground with another 1.7m below and an estimated weight of 85 tons. This has given it the alternative name of “Roi des Menhirs”. Card by Dugas c.1904.
In the early 1900s the 18m long allée couverte of Coat-Mez in Trévou-Tréguignec (Côtes-d’Armor) was being re-used as a barn by a smartly dressed dairy farmer judging from this card by Emile Hamonic in St-Brieuc. #TombTuesday.
November 11, 2025 at 8:41 AM
In the early 1900s the 18m long allée couverte of Coat-Mez in Trévou-Tréguignec (Côtes-d’Armor) was being re-used as a barn by a smartly dressed dairy farmer judging from this card by Emile Hamonic in St-Brieuc. #TombTuesday.
The war memorial in Le Vieux-Bourg (Côtes-d’Armor) was created in 1924 using a fallen menhir from near St-Gildas and a statue made by Charles-Henri Pourquet. The menhir was moved on a cart drawn by 24 oxen. #RemembranceDay.
November 11, 2025 at 8:30 AM
The war memorial in Le Vieux-Bourg (Côtes-d’Armor) was created in 1924 using a fallen menhir from near St-Gildas and a statue made by Charles-Henri Pourquet. The menhir was moved on a cart drawn by 24 oxen. #RemembranceDay.
The centre pieces of the monument aux morts in Plozévet (Finistère) were a displaced and fallen menhir and a statue by the sculptor René Quillivec. It was inaugurated on 12th December 1922. #RemembranceDay. Card by Villard in Quimper.
November 10, 2025 at 7:59 AM
The centre pieces of the monument aux morts in Plozévet (Finistère) were a displaced and fallen menhir and a statue by the sculptor René Quillivec. It was inaugurated on 12th December 1922. #RemembranceDay. Card by Villard in Quimper.
Several war memorials in France use displaced menhirs as a centre piece. This one in Quiberon erected in 1921 used a menhir which originally stood on the Point of Beg er-Lann. #RemembranceSunday #StandingStoneSunday.
November 9, 2025 at 8:45 AM
Several war memorials in France use displaced menhirs as a centre piece. This one in Quiberon erected in 1921 used a menhir which originally stood on the Point of Beg er-Lann. #RemembranceSunday #StandingStoneSunday.
This view of the V-shaped passage grave on the SW corner of the alignments at Kermario in Carnac was taken from the bend in the road before the railings were erected by local archaeologist Le Rouzic. It was in print by 1903 and remained so for over 25 years.
November 8, 2025 at 9:10 AM
This view of the V-shaped passage grave on the SW corner of the alignments at Kermario in Carnac was taken from the bend in the road before the railings were erected by local archaeologist Le Rouzic. It was in print by 1903 and remained so for over 25 years.
The dolmen of La Pierre Levée near Le Bras in St-Sulpice-les-Feuilles (Haute-Vienne) has a 3.6m long capstone; a groove across the top is probably from quarrymen trying to split it. This card by a publisher with the initials P.M. c.1913.
November 7, 2025 at 8:19 AM
The dolmen of La Pierre Levée near Le Bras in St-Sulpice-les-Feuilles (Haute-Vienne) has a 3.6m long capstone; a groove across the top is probably from quarrymen trying to split it. This card by a publisher with the initials P.M. c.1913.
The menhir known as La Demoiselle de Rhuis in Rhuis (Oise) is a little over 3m tall. In 1764 it was recorded as part of a group of six menhirs; by 1789 there were only two and one of those was destroyed in 1793. This card pre-1904.
November 6, 2025 at 8:25 AM
The menhir known as La Demoiselle de Rhuis in Rhuis (Oise) is a little over 3m tall. In 1764 it was recorded as part of a group of six menhirs; by 1789 there were only two and one of those was destroyed in 1793. This card pre-1904.
La Pierre Levée in St-Fort-sur-le-Né (Charente) has a 6x3m chamber with a 40-ton capstone resting on 3 tall orthostats with lower slabs between. In folklore it was built by the Virgin. This card by Nouvelles Galeries was in print by 1905.
November 5, 2025 at 8:26 AM
La Pierre Levée in St-Fort-sur-le-Né (Charente) has a 6x3m chamber with a 40-ton capstone resting on 3 tall orthostats with lower slabs between. In folklore it was built by the Virgin. This card by Nouvelles Galeries was in print by 1905.
The passage grave at La Barbière in Crossac (Loire-Atlantique) has a 20-ton 4x3m capstone over the chamber still supported on 3 orthostats; the others have been robbed. Two slipped capstones and some supports still survive from the ruined passage. #TombTuesday.
November 4, 2025 at 8:49 AM
The passage grave at La Barbière in Crossac (Loire-Atlantique) has a 20-ton 4x3m capstone over the chamber still supported on 3 orthostats; the others have been robbed. Two slipped capstones and some supports still survive from the ruined passage. #TombTuesday.
Next to La Chapelle N.D. de Lorette in Le Quillio (Côtes-d’Armor) there are 2 rows of stones which were the long sides of a tertre tumulaire, a type of low tumulus. The stone from the short sides have gone. Card by Hamonic c.1908.
November 3, 2025 at 8:12 AM
Next to La Chapelle N.D. de Lorette in Le Quillio (Côtes-d’Armor) there are 2 rows of stones which were the long sides of a tertre tumulaire, a type of low tumulus. The stone from the short sides have gone. Card by Hamonic c.1908.
For #StandingStoneSunday this week we have one of the Finistère giants – the 6.6m tall menhir of Kerhouézel in Porspoder which has been smoothed over most of its surface. Card by Andrieu in Morlaix c.1904.
November 2, 2025 at 8:25 AM
For #StandingStoneSunday this week we have one of the Finistère giants – the 6.6m tall menhir of Kerhouézel in Porspoder which has been smoothed over most of its surface. Card by Andrieu in Morlaix c.1904.