La Roche-aux-Fées (English: The Fairies' Rock) is a Neolithic gallery grave, or dolmen, located in the commune of Essé, in the French department of Ille-et-Vilaine in Brittany. Its name comes from a legend that claims that the stones were placed by fairies. The dolmen consists of more than forty stones forming a corridor four times longer than wide. Its northwest–southeast axis is on an alignment with sunrise at the winter solstice.
 La Roche-aux-Fées | |
  Shown within France | |
| Alternative name | The Fairies' Rock |
|---|---|
| Location | Brittany |
| Region | France |
| Coordinates | 47°56′11″N 1°24′17″W / 47.93639°N 1.40472°W |
| Type | Dolmen |
| History | |
| Periods | Neolithic |
Description
editThe tomb is one of the most famous and largest neolithic dolmens in Brittany.[1] It consists of a covered passage of stone blocks, with roofing stones laid across them.[2] It is about 20 metres long,[3] and there are around 48 blocks, of which the heaviest weighs about 45 tonnes.[2] the interior is divided into two separate chambers.[2] The entrance is aligned with the rising sun at the winter solstice.[1] The original structure would have been covered with a mound of stones and earth.[1] It is thought to date from between 3000 and 2500 BC.[1]
See also
editReferences
editExternal links
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Media related to La Roche-aux-Fées at Wikimedia Commons