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 dolmen of La Pierre Couverte at Boisseyre in Ambert (Puy-de-Dôme) has a 4x2.9m capstone resting on 3 orthostats and a terminal slab; a lower slab at the front partially closed the entrance. It was built by fairies. #TombTuesday.
December 9, 2025 at 8:23 AM
The dolmen of La Pierre Couverte at Boisseyre in Ambert (Puy-de-Dôme) has a 4x2.9m capstone resting on 3 orthostats and a terminal slab; a lower slab at the front partially closed the entrance. It was built by fairies. #TombTuesday.
The dolmen of La Pierre de l’Armoire (aka Larmoire and l’Ormaille) in Rumont (Seine-et-Marne) has a 4x3m capstone on 4 low orthostats. Four cupules at one end may have been deliberately made but others are natural.
December 8, 2025 at 9:18 AM
The dolmen of La Pierre de l’Armoire (aka Larmoire and l’Ormaille) in Rumont (Seine-et-Marne) has a 4x3m capstone on 4 low orthostats. Four cupules at one end may have been deliberately made but others are natural.
The menhir known as La Grande Pierre in Château-le-Vallière (Indre-et-Loire) is 3.6m tall. Local folklore recorded that at night fairies would dance around it. Card by Meunier c.1905. #StandingStoneSunday.
December 7, 2025 at 9:38 AM
The menhir known as La Grande Pierre in Château-le-Vallière (Indre-et-Loire) is 3.6m tall. Local folklore recorded that at night fairies would dance around it. Card by Meunier c.1905. #StandingStoneSunday.
The site of La Barbière in Crossac (Loire-Atlantique) is the remains of a passage grave. The chamber has a 20 ton 4x3m capstone still on 3 orthostats. The passage has 2 capstones which have slipped (right of this card).
December 6, 2025 at 9:30 AM
The site of La Barbière in Crossac (Loire-Atlantique) is the remains of a passage grave. The chamber has a 20 ton 4x3m capstone still on 3 orthostats. The passage has 2 capstones which have slipped (right of this card).
The menhir of La Dent de Gargantua near Chablé in St-Suliac (Ille-et-Vilaine) is made from a large block of angular white quartz. It is 5m tall and 3m wide at the base of the broad face. Not sure of the source for it being the giant’s tooth! Card by ELD in Paris c.1905.
December 5, 2025 at 8:41 AM
The menhir of La Dent de Gargantua near Chablé in St-Suliac (Ille-et-Vilaine) is made from a large block of angular white quartz. It is 5m tall and 3m wide at the base of the broad face. Not sure of the source for it being the giant’s tooth! Card by ELD in Paris c.1905.
The simple but charming little dolmen of Pouliot in Porspoder (Finistère) has a 3x2m capstone resting on 3 orthostats made from local granite. Card by Le Bourdonnec in Brest c. 1905.
December 4, 2025 at 8:41 AM
The simple but charming little dolmen of Pouliot in Porspoder (Finistère) has a 3x2m capstone resting on 3 orthostats made from local granite. Card by Le Bourdonnec in Brest c. 1905.
The slab-like menhir of La Verrie in Monteneuf (Morbihan) is 5m tall, just under 4m wide at the base but only 50cm thick. It is made from local schist. Card by Chamarre c.1905.
December 3, 2025 at 8:56 AM
The slab-like menhir of La Verrie in Monteneuf (Morbihan) is 5m tall, just under 4m wide at the base but only 50cm thick. It is made from local schist. Card by Chamarre c.1905.
This is one of the 3 passage graves at Mané-Kerioned in Carnac (Morbihan). It is debatable as to whether they all had their own mound or were incorporated into a single cairn by a process of agglomeration over time. Card by Le Rouzic c.1905. #TombTuesday.
December 2, 2025 at 9:00 AM
This is one of the 3 passage graves at Mané-Kerioned in Carnac (Morbihan). It is debatable as to whether they all had their own mound or were incorporated into a single cairn by a process of agglomeration over time. Card by Le Rouzic c.1905. #TombTuesday.
The dolmen de Blanc in Nojals-et-Clotte (Dordogne) has a 4x2.5m chamber with a narrow offset passage. A local tale said it was built by the Virgin to protect a young shepherdess from a storm hence its other name of Grotte de la Vierge.
December 1, 2025 at 9:50 AM
The dolmen de Blanc in Nojals-et-Clotte (Dordogne) has a 4x2.5m chamber with a narrow offset passage. A local tale said it was built by the Virgin to protect a young shepherdess from a storm hence its other name of Grotte de la Vierge.
Before 1918 the menhir of La Pierre du Diable in Lécluse (Nord) stood over 5m tall (as on this 1905 card) but it was damaged in the war and is now only 3.5m. The Devil left it here after a plan to build a barn in exchange for a farmer’s soul 50 years later was thwarted. #StandingStoneSunday.
November 30, 2025 at 9:00 AM
Before 1918 the menhir of La Pierre du Diable in Lécluse (Nord) stood over 5m tall (as on this 1905 card) but it was damaged in the war and is now only 3.5m. The Devil left it here after a plan to build a barn in exchange for a farmer’s soul 50 years later was thwarted. #StandingStoneSunday.
The dolmen of Pierre de la Bie in Rochereau (Vienne) has an impressive 6x5m capstone now resting on just 2 orthostats from the W corner of the chamber. Early plans show more orthostats and scattered blocks nearby were clearly once part of it.
November 29, 2025 at 8:19 AM
The dolmen of Pierre de la Bie in Rochereau (Vienne) has an impressive 6x5m capstone now resting on just 2 orthostats from the W corner of the chamber. Early plans show more orthostats and scattered blocks nearby were clearly once part of it.
This is the 3m tall menhir near La Roche sur Sèvre in La Verrie (now Chanverrie, Vendée) animated by smiling well-dressed woman and girl. Card by Poupin in Mortagne c. 1905.
November 28, 2025 at 8:44 AM
This is the 3m tall menhir near La Roche sur Sèvre in La Verrie (now Chanverrie, Vendée) animated by smiling well-dressed woman and girl. Card by Poupin in Mortagne c. 1905.
The ruined dolmen of La Ville-Hamon in Erquy (Côtes-d’Armor) has a 3x3m capstone lying at an angle on 2 orthostats. Other disturbed stones suggest it may be the remains of an allée couverte. Card by Chamarre early 1900s.
November 27, 2025 at 8:20 AM
The ruined dolmen of La Ville-Hamon in Erquy (Côtes-d’Armor) has a 3x3m capstone lying at an angle on 2 orthostats. Other disturbed stones suggest it may be the remains of an allée couverte. Card by Chamarre early 1900s.
This is the taller of 2 menhirs near Kerscaven in Penmarch (Finistère). It stands 6m tall and is a slab with 2 distinctive profiles; the broad faces are rutted from weathering and have a jagged top, the narrow ones are smooth. Card mis-captioned by Neurdein 1909 or earlier.
November 26, 2025 at 8:37 AM
This is the taller of 2 menhirs near Kerscaven in Penmarch (Finistère). It stands 6m tall and is a slab with 2 distinctive profiles; the broad faces are rutted from weathering and have a jagged top, the narrow ones are smooth. Card mis-captioned by Neurdein 1909 or earlier.
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.