Rock art of the Gavrinis Corridor
Rock art of the Gavrinis Corridor
These carved symbols dating back to around 3,500 BC represent a significant example of Middle Stone Age art surviving in Europe Twenty-three of the 29 massive stone slabs lining the corridor are intricately carved with symbols and designs The entrance to the Neolithic tomb at Gavrinis is a mound of stones approximately 50 meters in diameter The mass of stones forming the mound has multiple inner walls dividing the mound into different levels This is a remarkable example of Neolithic drystone architecture renowned for its intricate and well-preserved megalithic art featuring spiral and zig-zag patterns The Gavrinis tomb is a Neolithic passage tomb built around 4,200–4,000 BC on a small island in the Gulf of Morbihan in Brittany France The entrance to the Gavrinis tomb is a narrow 14-meter-long passage lined with large ornately decorated stone slabs The floor is paved with stone slabs that rise slightly as you approach the chamber The necropolis is also notable for its complex structure and excellent preservation
A model of part of the Gavrinis corridor in the Bougon Museum / Photo credit: Jason Harding
The island is renowned for its necropolis Neolithic megalithic monuments share a common context with the Breton megalithic monuments at Carnac and Locmariaquer and are closely linked to these monuments Abstract motifs include spirals zigzags overlapping circles and rhombuses At the ends of the corridors some symbols appear to represent non-abstract objects such as axes staffs or canes The island remains connected to the mainland The exquisite interior makes Gavrinis a treasure trove of megalithic art The shapes commonly known as shields may symbolize the unique human form Other abstract motifs include zigzags rhombuses and serpentine lines Some stone slabs block sunlight from reaching the central chamber Although close enough to be illuminated during the summer solstice
A model of part of the Gavrinis corridor in the Bougon Museum / Photo credit : archaeologist_d
The Gavrinis cairn is located on an island in Brittany and can be reached by boat from ports such as Larmor-Baden The name Gavrinis is believed to derive from the Breton words gavr meaning goat and enez meaning island a term that may be incorrect according to documents dated between 1184 and 1202 The island is also known as Guirv Enes and Guerg Enes meaning the wrath of the ancient Irish During excavations in 1840 the interior of Tomb A revealed pottery flat-bottomed and round-bottomed structures bead chains and stone tools After the construction of the passages they were covered with large stone slabs This is one of the oldest structures still standing in the world The stonework within the passages and crypts is covered with large stone art similar to other Neolithic tombs such as Barnenes in Brittany and Newgrange in Ireland
