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).
The chamber of the dolmen de Briande in Arçay (Vienne) is 10m long and almost 2m wide. Seven orthostats survive which support a single capstone now broken in two. Card by Dando-Berry in Loudun c. 1905. #TombTuesday.
February 17, 2026 at 9:02 AM
The chamber of the dolmen de Briande in Arçay (Vienne) is 10m long and almost 2m wide. Seven orthostats survive which support a single capstone now broken in two. Card by Dando-Berry in Loudun c. 1905. #TombTuesday.
Two menhirs in Olonne-sur-Mer (Vendée) are known as Les Jumelles (the Twins). They stand 5m apart and both are 4m tall. One is a typical menhir, referred to alone as La Pierre Levée; the other is a more rounded block. Card by Poupin and in print by 1904.
February 16, 2026 at 9:07 AM
Two menhirs in Olonne-sur-Mer (Vendée) are known as Les Jumelles (the Twins). They stand 5m apart and both are 4m tall. One is a typical menhir, referred to alone as La Pierre Levée; the other is a more rounded block. Card by Poupin and in print by 1904.
The menhir of La Pierre Longue in Iffendic (Ille-et-Vilaine) is a slab of schist just over 4m tall. Its broad faces are orientated to the east and west. This card by Mary-Rousselière in Rennes was in print by 1905. #StandingStoneSunday.
February 15, 2026 at 9:21 AM
The menhir of La Pierre Longue in Iffendic (Ille-et-Vilaine) is a slab of schist just over 4m tall. Its broad faces are orientated to the east and west. This card by Mary-Rousselière in Rennes was in print by 1905. #StandingStoneSunday.
The site at Keravel in Roscoff (Finistère) had a 20m long chamber with a 3.5m passage on one side. Sections had been robbed for stone in C19 so early descriptions saw it as 3 simple dolmens. What remained was destroyed in the 1940s.
February 14, 2026 at 8:27 AM
The site at Keravel in Roscoff (Finistère) had a 20m long chamber with a 3.5m passage on one side. Sections had been robbed for stone in C19 so early descriptions saw it as 3 simple dolmens. What remained was destroyed in the 1940s.
The site at Rondossec in Plouharnel (Morbihan) has 3 well preserved passage graves still set within a 20m diameter mound; only their capstones visible from the outside. This card has dolmen B in the centre, C in the top right and A in the bottom left.
February 13, 2026 at 8:49 AM
The site at Rondossec in Plouharnel (Morbihan) has 3 well preserved passage graves still set within a 20m diameter mound; only their capstones visible from the outside. This card has dolmen B in the centre, C in the top right and A in the bottom left.
The alignments of Kermario in Carnac (Morbihan) comprise over 1,000 menhirs stretching for just over 1km in several rows. The tallest ones are at the W end from where this “general view” by Villard in Quimper was taken. It was published before 1903.
February 12, 2026 at 9:05 AM
The alignments of Kermario in Carnac (Morbihan) comprise over 1,000 menhirs stretching for just over 1km in several rows. The tallest ones are at the W end from where this “general view” by Villard in Quimper was taken. It was published before 1903.
The Peyro-Lebado in Lacaune (Tarn) is one of the biggest statue-menhirs in Europe at 4.5m tall and 1.85m wide. Made of granite from 3km away, its features are badly eroded but traces of a belt and other details suggest it represented a male figure.
February 11, 2026 at 8:40 AM
The Peyro-Lebado in Lacaune (Tarn) is one of the biggest statue-menhirs in Europe at 4.5m tall and 1.85m wide. Made of granite from 3km away, its features are badly eroded but traces of a belt and other details suggest it represented a male figure.
La Pierre Couverte in Duneau (Sarthe) is a dolmen angevin with 2 orthostats on each side and a terminal slab forming a 5.5x2.5m chamber covered by a single 7m long capstone which has broken in two. #TombTuesday.
February 10, 2026 at 8:22 AM
La Pierre Couverte in Duneau (Sarthe) is a dolmen angevin with 2 orthostats on each side and a terminal slab forming a 5.5x2.5m chamber covered by a single 7m long capstone which has broken in two. #TombTuesday.
The dolmen of La Maison des Fées in St-Lambert-la-Potherie has a rectangular chamber roofed with 2 large capstones one of which has slipped due to the collapse of an orthostat on the N side. Disturbed stones nearby may be from an antechamber or trilith portal entrance.
February 9, 2026 at 8:25 AM
The dolmen of La Maison des Fées in St-Lambert-la-Potherie has a rectangular chamber roofed with 2 large capstones one of which has slipped due to the collapse of an orthostat on the N side. Disturbed stones nearby may be from an antechamber or trilith portal entrance.
The menhir near La Croterie in Chauvé (Loire-Atlantique) is over 4m tall, 3.5m wide at the base of the broad face and 1.5m thick. A recumbent stone nearby may have been a twin or may never have stood. Card by Chapeau early 1910s. #StandingStoneSunday.
February 8, 2026 at 9:13 AM
The menhir near La Croterie in Chauvé (Loire-Atlantique) is over 4m tall, 3.5m wide at the base of the broad face and 1.5m thick. A recumbent stone nearby may have been a twin or may never have stood. Card by Chapeau early 1910s. #StandingStoneSunday.
This is a view into the entrance of the 8m long allée couverte on Ile-Grande in Pleumeur-Bodou (Côtes-d’Armor); the slabs on the left are kerbstones to support the cairn. The fairies who lived there would come out and dance with anyone passing on nights with a full moon.
February 7, 2026 at 8:59 AM
This is a view into the entrance of the 8m long allée couverte on Ile-Grande in Pleumeur-Bodou (Côtes-d’Armor); the slabs on the left are kerbstones to support the cairn. The fairies who lived there would come out and dance with anyone passing on nights with a full moon.
The site at Kerbervas in Plouider (Finistère) now has a capstone on 3 orthostats but other blocks nearby suggest it was once a larger structure, possibly an allée couverte. On this card by Hamonic c.1910 it is captioned as “Devil’s Warren” and on an early plan as “Druid’s Altar”.
February 6, 2026 at 8:30 AM
The site at Kerbervas in Plouider (Finistère) now has a capstone on 3 orthostats but other blocks nearby suggest it was once a larger structure, possibly an allée couverte. On this card by Hamonic c.1910 it is captioned as “Devil’s Warren” and on an early plan as “Druid’s Altar”.
The slab-like menhir of Kerbiguet-Lann in Gourin (Morbihan) is 5.7m tall, 2.8m wide at the base but only 0.5m thick. It leans slightly to one side. Card by Barbey in Gourin c.1905.
February 5, 2026 at 9:18 AM
The slab-like menhir of Kerbiguet-Lann in Gourin (Morbihan) is 5.7m tall, 2.8m wide at the base but only 0.5m thick. It leans slightly to one side. Card by Barbey in Gourin c.1905.
This view of the alignments at Menec in Carnac (Morbihan) looking north-westwards, with a family of 7 in the foreground, was issued by the widow Ecomard in Quiberon c.1905.
February 4, 2026 at 8:41 AM
This view of the alignments at Menec in Carnac (Morbihan) looking north-westwards, with a family of 7 in the foreground, was issued by the widow Ecomard in Quiberon c.1905.
The dolmen of La Pierre aux Fées in Reignier (Haute-Savoie) has a 5x4.5m capstone on 3 orthostats. It was built overnight by a fairy who carried the capstone on her head, an orthostat under each arm and the third on her head. #TombTuesday.
February 3, 2026 at 9:14 AM
The dolmen of La Pierre aux Fées in Reignier (Haute-Savoie) has a 5x4.5m capstone on 3 orthostats. It was built overnight by a fairy who carried the capstone on her head, an orthostat under each arm and the third on her head. #TombTuesday.
Two of the orthostats in the antechamber of the allée couverte of La Bellée in Boury-en-Vexin (Oise) have carved relief decoration. This is the most elaborate one, often interpreted as a necklace above a pair of breasts. Card by Prévot c.1908.
February 2, 2026 at 9:14 AM
Two of the orthostats in the antechamber of the allée couverte of La Bellée in Boury-en-Vexin (Oise) have carved relief decoration. This is the most elaborate one, often interpreted as a necklace above a pair of breasts. Card by Prévot c.1908.
The menhir of La Pierre Percée in Draché (Indre-et-Loire) is over 3.5m tall and has a natural hole through the broad face; promises were guaranteed by passing hands through it. It was also known as Gargantua’s quill. #StandingStoneSunday.
February 1, 2026 at 8:42 AM
The menhir of La Pierre Percée in Draché (Indre-et-Loire) is over 3.5m tall and has a natural hole through the broad face; promises were guaranteed by passing hands through it. It was also known as Gargantua’s quill. #StandingStoneSunday.
La Planche à Puare on Ile d’Yeu (Vendée) is a transepted passage grave with 2 chambers on either side and a larger terminal cell. Early excavations recovered bones from around 12 individuals. Card by Nouvelles Galeries early 1910s.
January 31, 2026 at 8:54 AM
La Planche à Puare on Ile d’Yeu (Vendée) is a transepted passage grave with 2 chambers on either side and a larger terminal cell. Early excavations recovered bones from around 12 individuals. Card by Nouvelles Galeries early 1910s.
La Pierre Courcoulée in Landéan (Ille-et-Vilaine) is the remains of an allée couverte which had a 6m long chamber. Twelve orthostats survive and a 4x2m capstone which was broken in two in C19. Other stones nearby could be kerbstones from the mound.
January 30, 2026 at 9:12 AM
La Pierre Courcoulée in Landéan (Ille-et-Vilaine) is the remains of an allée couverte which had a 6m long chamber. Twelve orthostats survive and a 4x2m capstone which was broken in two in C19. Other stones nearby could be kerbstones from the mound.
The menhir of Kerangallou in Trégunc (Finistère) is 7.5m tall excluding the small cross supposedly added by Mediaeval monks. It was once a popular meeting place accessed through a small gate but is now on private land. Photo by Waron 1905 or earlier.
January 29, 2026 at 9:16 AM
The menhir of Kerangallou in Trégunc (Finistère) is 7.5m tall excluding the small cross supposedly added by Mediaeval monks. It was once a popular meeting place accessed through a small gate but is now on private land. Photo by Waron 1905 or earlier.
The alignments of Kerzerho in Erdeven (Morbihan) followed an erratic course for over 2km but due to stone robbing only a few scattered groups of menhirs now remain. The largest surviving section is over 160 menhirs by the Plouharnel-Erdeven road.
January 28, 2026 at 8:29 AM
The alignments of Kerzerho in Erdeven (Morbihan) followed an erratic course for over 2km but due to stone robbing only a few scattered groups of menhirs now remain. The largest surviving section is over 160 menhirs by the Plouharnel-Erdeven road.
This is a view from inside the chamber of one of the 3 passage graves at Mané-Kerioned in Carnac (Morbihan). Card by Carnac based archaeologist Zacharie Le Rouzic 1905 or earlier. #TombTuesday.
January 27, 2026 at 8:47 AM
This is a view from inside the chamber of one of the 3 passage graves at Mané-Kerioned in Carnac (Morbihan). Card by Carnac based archaeologist Zacharie Le Rouzic 1905 or earlier. #TombTuesday.
The dolmen of La Pierre Martine in Livernon (Lot) has a 7m long capstone on a low (only 1m tall) but broad (over 4m long) orthostat on each side with a terminal slab set between them. Evidence suggests that it was originally covered by a 30x15m tumulus.
January 26, 2026 at 7:20 AM
The dolmen of La Pierre Martine in Livernon (Lot) has a 7m long capstone on a low (only 1m tall) but broad (over 4m long) orthostat on each side with a terminal slab set between them. Evidence suggests that it was originally covered by a 30x15m tumulus.
The menhir known as Gravier de Gargantua in Port-Mort (Eure) is 3.5m tall. It was once taller but about 1m broke off when it was moved for road widening in the 1890s. It is a piece of gravel from the giant’s clog which he tossed away. #StandingStoneSunday.
January 25, 2026 at 8:57 AM
The menhir known as Gravier de Gargantua in Port-Mort (Eure) is 3.5m tall. It was once taller but about 1m broke off when it was moved for road widening in the 1890s. It is a piece of gravel from the giant’s clog which he tossed away. #StandingStoneSunday.
The 9m long allée couverte of La Pierre Folle in Montguyon (Charente-Maritime) is covered by 2 capstones resting on 9 orthostats and a terminal slab; the capstone over the end of the chamber is a massive 30-ton block. Card by Barboteau c.1905.
January 24, 2026 at 8:50 AM
The 9m long allée couverte of La Pierre Folle in Montguyon (Charente-Maritime) is covered by 2 capstones resting on 9 orthostats and a terminal slab; the capstone over the end of the chamber is a massive 30-ton block. Card by Barboteau c.1905.