Tumulus de Tumiac
Butte de Tumiac · Tumiac Cairn
Middle Neolithic·Morbihan Neolithic / Carnac·🇫🇷 Brittany, Morbihan, Arzon, France
About
About Tumulus de Tumiac
Large passage tomb tumulus at Arzon, Rhuys Peninsula (c. 3800–3200 BCE), 50 m diameter, 15 m high, with polygonal chamber and corridor, yielded jadeite axes, callaïs beads and elite burial goods comparable to Saint-Michel.
Why it mattersElite Morbihan tumulus linking Carnac and Gulf monumental axes.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Jadeite axe provenance (Alps)
- 02Elite vs collective burial
Theories
- 01Chiefly tomb controlling Gulf of Morbihan access
- 02Maritime exchange hub monument
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- c. 3650 BCE
- Period
- Middle Neolithic
- Culture
- Morbihan Neolithic / Carnac
- Purpose
- Elite passage tomb
- Rediscovered
- Modern excavation 19th–20th century
- Excavation
- Excavated
c. 3650 BCE
Initial construction / first occupation at Tumulus de Tumiac
19th century / 1960s
Antiquarian notice and modern systematic excavation of Tumulus de Tumiac
2000s
Conservation and publication of final reports for Tumulus de Tumiac
On the ground
Structures & features
47.5450° N · 2.8920° W · 15 m · 3 mapped features
Polygonal Chamber
chamberPolygonal chamber 4.5 m with 8 gneiss orthostats and capstone
47.5451° N · 2.8919° WCorridor (Passage)
corridor8 m corridor with orthostats facing southeast toward sea
47.5449° N · 2.8919° WJadeite Axe Deposit
findspotFindspot of 3 Alpine jadeite axes near chamber floor
47.5452° N · 2.8921° W