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<< Our Photo Pages >> Île Carn cairn - Chambered Cairn in France in Bretagne:Finistère (29)

Submitted by TheCaptain on Tuesday, 24 January 2023  Page Views: 10533

Neolithic and Bronze AgeSite Name: Île Carn cairn Alternative Name: cairn a 3 dolmens, Dolmens de l'Île-Carn, Enez Karn
Country: France Département: Bretagne:Finistère (29) Type: Chambered Cairn
Nearest Town: Ploudalmézeau  Nearest Village: Île Carn
Latitude: 48.575100N  Longitude: 4.6925W
Condition:
5Perfect
4Almost Perfect
3Reasonable but with some damage
2Ruined but still recognisable as an ancient site
1Pretty much destroyed, possibly visible as crop marks
0No data.
-1Completely destroyed
5 Ambience:
5Superb
4Good
3Ordinary
2Not Good
1Awful
0No data.
5 Access:
5Can be driven to, probably with disabled access
4Short walk on a footpath
3Requiring a bit more of a walk
2A long walk
1In the middle of nowhere, a nightmare to find
0No data.
2 Accuracy:
5co-ordinates taken by GPS or official recorded co-ordinates
4co-ordinates scaled from a detailed map
3co-ordinates scaled from a bad map
2co-ordinates of the nearest village
1co-ordinates of the nearest town
0no data
5

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I have visited· I would like to visit

43559959 Twistytwirly PAB church-grim Chrus Martin_L trylondm would like to visit

rrmoser visited on 8th Jun 2017 - their rating: Cond: 4 Amb: 5 Access: 3 amazing corbeled domes 3 and a teardrop arch stunning

TheCaptain visited on 16th Apr 2014 - their rating: Cond: 4 Amb: 5 Access: 3 Just offshore from the bay of Porsguen in the community of Ploudalmézou at the northwestern point of Finisterre, Brittany, lies a small island, which can be walked to at low tide from the mainland. A large part of this small island is made up of a massive and remarkable round cairn which contains three dolmenic chambers. The outer round cairn is about 30 metres in diameter, and perhaps still almost 10m in height. It seems to have only been recognised that an ancient cairn was here in the late 19th century, which was further recognised by others in the early 20th century, with a description of 1925 mentioning the presence of an anthropomorphic stele, 1.75m in height. During the course of the second world war, construction of a lookout post and gun battery on the island broke through into the monument and revealed the presence of the southern chamber. During the following ten years degradation of the monument became rapid, accelerated by clandestine excavations, until in 1954 a rescue plan was put into place under the direction of P-R Giot. Following an interruption, further excavations occurred between 1964 and 1967, which showed that the construction was made using local materials, mostly granite stones with occasional use of megalithic slabs. Several phases of construction were revealed. The initial construction was a circular chamber of diameter approx 3.5 metres with an entrance passageway from one side of the chamber thus making a q shape, leading in from the southeast. The structure is all of dry stone walling technique except for the entrance passage which is covered with megalithic slabs. The chamber is roofed with a circular corbelled structure which remains intact to this day. Drystone walling had been used to block off the chamber at both extremities of the passageway. The whole of this was enclosed in a circular cairn. Carbon dating has been used to suggest the structure dates back to as long as 4700BC. The second construction was the addition of a second chamber to the south, with a rectangular plan, and long entrance passageway approx 5 metres in length to the southeast. Carbon dating has been used to suggest this structure dates back to perhaps 4500BC. Further construction followed with the addition of a third tomb to the northern side of the first, within which are two conjoined chambers, the southern of which is perhaps double the size of the northern, which has a couple of large megalithic slabs used in its construction. Dating of this structure has been used to show a possible date of as far back as 3900 BC or more recently of 2000BC, suggesting a possible long term use of this particular structure. Following these three cairns, a fourth stage of construction was to possibly make a single large rectangular cairn covering the three adjacent structures. This was then probably followed by a fifth construction stage of an approximately 30 metre diameter circular structure with a facing wall, up to a metre in height surrounding the whole thing, and this blocking off all three chambers. Within the central chamber were found several small vases and other crescent shaped items which have become eponymously named in the Carn style, along with several pearls and flint tools. The southern chamber revealed more pots including a single small vase of just 5cm diameter, but of similar styling, whilst the northern chamber revealed a splendid 10cm diameter flask and some fine polished flint items, and some fragments of red ochre. Fabulous

TheCaptain saw from a distance on 20th Jun 2005 - their rating: Access: 2 Just offshore is this little island which can be reached a low tide, with a massive cairn containing three dolmenic chambers. There are also some WW2 gun emplacements and lookouts which spoil it a bit. The cairn is massive, and looks like its been quarried into, and from the shore the entry to one of the chambers can be seen. Its a pity I cannot get out to have a look. Should I borrow a boat ?

neolithique02 have visited here

Average ratings for this site from all visit loggers: Condition: 4 Ambience: 5 Access: 2.67

Île Carn cairn
Île Carn cairn submitted by Martin_L : Southern chamber. View towards the exceptionally beautiful corbelled roof. June 2022 (Vote or comment on this photo)
Top photo: The exceptionally beautiful corbelled roof in the southern chamber. Just offshore from the bay of Porsguen in the community of Ploudalmézeau at the northwestern point of Finistère, Brittany, lies a small island, which can be walked to at low tide from the mainland. A large part of this small island is made up of a massive and remarkable round cairn which contains three dolmenic chambers.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Beware the tidal situation when visiting this site, as passage between shore and island is impossible when the tide is not out.

The outer round cairn is about 30 metres in diameter, and perhaps still almost 10m in height. It seems to have only been recognised that an ancient cairn was here in the late 19th century, which was further recognised by others in the early 20th century, with a description of 1925 mentioning the presence of an anthropomorphic stele, 1.75m in height.

During the course of the second world war, construction of a lookout post and gun battery on the island broke through into the monument and revealed the presence of the southern chamber. During the following ten years degradation of the monument became rapid, accelerated by clandestine excavations, until in 1954 a rescue plan was put into place under the direction of P-R Giot. Following an interruption, further excavations occurred between 1964 and 1967, which showed that the construction was made using local materials, mostly granite stones with occasional use of megalithic slabs. Several phases of construction were revealed.

The initial construction was a circular chamber of diameter approx 3.5 metres with an entrance passageway from one side of the chamber thus making a q shape, leading in from the southeast. The structure is all of dry stone walling technique except for the entrance passage which is covered with megalithic slabs. The chamber is roofed with a circular corbelled structure which remains intact to this day. Drystone walling had been used to block off the chamber at both extremities of the passageway. The whole of this was enclosed in a circular cairn. Carbon dating has been used to suggest the structure dates back to as long as 4700BC.

The second construction was the addition of a second chamber to the south, with a rectangular plan, and long entrance passageway approx 5 metres in length to the southeast. Carbon dating has been used to suggest this structure dates back to perhaps 4500BC.

Further construction followed with the addition of a third tomb to the northern side of the first, within which are two conjoined chambers, the southern of which is perhaps double the size of the northern, which has a couple of large megalithic slabs used in its construction. Dating of this structure has been used to show a possible date of as far back as 3900 BC or more recently of 2000BC, suggesting a possible long term use of this particular structure.

Following these three cairns, a fourth stage of construction was to possibly make a single large rectangular cairn covering the three adjacent structures. This was then probably followed by a fifth construction stage of an approximately 30 metre diameter circular structure with a facing wall, up to a metre in height surrounding the whole thing, and this blocking off all three chambers.

Within the central chamber were found several small vases and other crescent shaped items which have become eponymously named in the Carn style, along with several pearls and flint tools. The southern chamber revealed more pots including a single small vase of just 5cm diameter, but of similar styling, whilst the northern chamber revealed a splendid 10cm diameter flask and some fine polished flint items, and some fragments of red ochre.

There are some remnants of WW2 gun emplacements and lookouts on the island which spoil it a bit.

If the tide is in, then the cairn and one of its entrances can be seen from the mainland. Beware the tidal situation when visiting this site, as passage between shore and island is impossible when the tide is not out.

Martyn/TheCaptain writes: After failing to get to this remarkable 6500 year old site during my 2005 tour de France due to the tidal situation, this is one site I have really wanted to revisit. At last, after almost 9 years, I have paid pilgrimage to this island, and it was well worth the wait and effort. Mindblowing.
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Île Carn cairn
Île Carn cairn submitted by Martin_L : Northern Chamber (Dolmen Nord). View from inside the left compartment towards the chamber entrance and the entrance of the right hand compartment. June 2022 (3 comments - Vote or comment on this photo)

Île Carn cairn
Île Carn cairn submitted by Martin_L : Southern chamber. View from inside towards the entrance passage. A truly magnificent site. June 2022 (3 comments - Vote or comment on this photo)

Île Carn cairn
Île Carn cairn submitted by theCaptain : Re-incarnation from the left side chamber, Easter 2014. (1 comment - Vote or comment on this photo)

Île Carn cairn
Île Carn cairn submitted by Martin_L : Northern Chamber (Dolmen Nord). The dolmen actually has two chambers each with a sublime corbelled rood. The centre of the photo shows the separating wall between the two compartments. June 2022 (Vote or comment on this photo)

Île Carn cairn
Île Carn cairn submitted by Martin_L : Southern chamber, view towards the entrance. Beautfully lintelled passage entry. June 2022 (Vote or comment on this photo)

Île Carn cairn
Île Carn cairn submitted by Martin_L : Southern chamber. Beautiful lintelled gate between passage and chamber. June 2022

Île Carn cairn
Île Carn cairn submitted by Martin_L : Entrance of the northern Chamber (Dolmen Nord). A short passage leads into its two compartments each with sublime drywalling and corbelled roof. June 2022

Île Carn cairn
Île Carn cairn submitted by Martin_L : Northern Chamber (Dolmen Nord). The left hand compartment. Sublime corbelled roof and drywalling. June 2022

Île Carn cairn
Île Carn cairn submitted by Martin_L : Northern Chamber (Dolmen Nord). The sublime corbelled roof of the left hand compartment. June 2022

Île Carn cairn
Île Carn cairn submitted by Martin_L : Northern Chamber (Dolmen Nord). View from inside the entrance passage towards the inside. The dolmen actually has two chambers each with a corbelled rood. The centre of the photo shows the separating wall between the two compartments. June 2022

Île Carn cairn
Île Carn cairn submitted by Martin_L : The magnificent neolithic Cairn de l'île Carn seen from the south-west in June 2022. Dates back to 6200BP. Contains three well preserved passage graves with corbelled roof chambers. The central chamber is locked. (2 comments)

Île Carn cairn
Île Carn cairn submitted by theCaptain : Looking out from the southern chamber into the light of day.

Île Carn cairn
Île Carn cairn submitted by theCaptain : The entrance to the oldest, central chamber is blocked off by an iron gate. Looking around, some of the large coverstones are cracked, so this is probably a wise precaution.

Île Carn cairn
Île Carn cairn submitted by theCaptain : On the island, having walked all the way around the back of the cairn, at a position to its northeast we get a first climpse of the front facade, with all its hidden wonders. This is that view of the cairn from the northeast, looking southwest.

Île Carn cairn
Île Carn cairn submitted by theCaptain : Ile Carn, central and right hand chamber entrances. Unfortunately, being close up to the carn and it is difficult to get a good full view of the front face. My attempt to stich several pictures have so far failed using ICE, this is the best I could do, so will have to spend ages manually fixing bits together at some time in the future.

Île Carn cairn
Île Carn cairn submitted by neolithique02 : Site in Bretagne:Finistère (29) France Image copyright: Néolithique02, hosted on Flickr and displayed under the terms of their API.

Île Carn cairn
Île Carn cairn submitted by Martin_L : Northern Chamber (Dolmen Nord). View inside its right compartment. June 2022

Île Carn cairn
Île Carn cairn submitted by Martin_L : Northern Chamber (Dolmen Nord). View from inside the left compartment towards the entrance. June 2022

Île Carn cairn
Île Carn cairn submitted by Martin_L : Central chamber. View of the first half of the entrance passage in June 2022. Unlike the two other chambers, this chamber is gated as the corbelled roof is thought to be unsafe.

Île Carn cairn
Île Carn cairn submitted by Traumrealistin : Pic from inside the 3rd tomb.

Île Carn cairn
Île Carn cairn submitted by theCaptain : Although I thought it would be difficult for Dad to come into this one, having been in the first chamber he was determined to do so.

Île Carn cairn
Île Carn cairn submitted by theCaptain : On to the southern chamber, the passage to which has the most splendid megalithic lintelled entrance.

Île Carn cairn
Île Carn cairn submitted by theCaptain : Nine years after my first failed visit to this most special island cairn, a plan had come together for me to pay another visit with the right tidal conditions. One thing I had no control over was the weather, but it was absolutely perfect. Here I am, on the crossing over to the island, with a spring tide right out.

Île Carn cairn
Île Carn cairn submitted by theCaptain : Emerging from the right side chamber, Easter 2014

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Nearby sites listing. In the following links * = Image available
 76m SW 223° Ile Carn menhir* Standing Stone (Menhir)
 2.5km SSW 199° Pointe de Guilligui allée couverte* Passage Grave
 2.5km SE 139° Menhir de Prat-Leach* Standing Stone (Menhir)
 2.5km SSW 196° Menhir du Guilligui* Standing Stone (Menhir)
 2.5km SSW 195° Menhir de la Pointe de Guilligui B* Standing Stone (Menhir)
 2.5km SW 225° Menhir de Beg-ar-Galeti* Standing Stone (Menhir)
 2.8km S 182° Alignement de Kerhoanoc* Stone Row / Alignment
 3.2km ESE 102° Allée Couverte Le Ribl* Passage Grave
 3.3km ESE 117° Menhir de Croaz Ambich* Standing Stone (Menhir)
 3.9km ESE 106° Menhir de Poullédan* Standing Stone (Menhir)
 4.1km SW 224° Menhir de Foshuel* Standing Stone (Menhir)
 4.3km SW 228° St Samson's Well (Landunvez)* Holy Well or Sacred Spring
 4.3km SW 226° Menhirs du Lavoir de Saint-Samson Standing Stone (Menhir)
 4.7km SW 228° Affleurement à cupules de Kerandraon Rock Art
 4.7km SW 228° Menhir de Kerandraon Standing Stone (Menhir)
 5.0km NE 56° Ile Guénioc* Chambered Tomb
 5.1km ENE 57° Menhir de Guenioc Standing Stone (Menhir)
 5.6km SW 227° Tumulus de la pointe de Landunvez* Chambered Cairn
 5.8km ESE 108° Menhir de Kerouant* Standing Stone (Menhir)
 5.9km SW 222° Menhirs de Kerlaguen* Standing Stones
 5.9km ENE 60° Île Tariec cairn* Cairn
 5.9km ENE 60° Île Tariec menhir* Standing Stone (Menhir)
 5.9km S 186° Menhir De Kerougana* Standing Stone (Menhir)
 6.2km ENE 71° Ilot Roc'h-Avel* Chambered Cairn
 6.2km SW 221° Menhir de Penquer* Standing Stone (Menhir)
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"Île Carn cairn" | Login/Create an Account | 8 News and Comments
  
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Re: Île Carn by TheCaptain on Sunday, 11 May 2014
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After failing to get to this remarkable 6500 year old site during my 2005 tour de France due to the tidal situation, this is one site I have really wanted to revisit. At last, after almost 9 years, I have paid pilgrimage to this island, and it was well worth the wait and effort. Mindblowing. This is my story.

Nine years after my first failed visit to this most special island cairn, a plan had come together for me to pay another visit with the right tidal conditions. One thing I had no control over was the weather, but it was absolutely perfect.

With a spring tide right out, we figured out that the best way to the island was not by scrambling all over the rocky promontory providing the shortest route to the island, but with the tide so low we could walk across the mostly sandy bay, below all the tricky rocks. This proved very simple, with only a couple of wet feet unwittingly put into pools of water! Crossing the pebbly beach and up onto the grassy island, and I decided that we would leave exploring the cairn until last.

I had read somewhere that a menhir was once reported on this island, but which had become missing. So, before we went for a look at the cairn, I had a brief look all over the rest of the island, and just behind one of the ruined concrete wartime positions is a large long stone laying flat to the ground and mostly now buried, which would have made a perfect menhir, probably just below 2 metres tall, fitting my memory of the description..

From here we walked around the western (rear) side of the cairn, and I found at least one old seaweed oven, which look like a small allée couverte, and which have been confused as megalithic monuments by others in the past. There are places around the huge cairn where large slabs can be seen, and I wonder whether the cairn once had a kerb around it. Rounding the cairn on the seaward side, and at a position to its northeast we get a first glimpse of the now open front facade, with all its hidden wonders.

First off, I tried to get some pictures of the cairn, but it proved impossible to get the whole thing into one picture, and also very difficult to get any panoramas which would all join up to work as we are to close to it on the island, and moving back further would end up with a nasty fall. I eventually thought I’d got some which would work, but it wasn’t the case, so I’ll have to visit again some time!

Although I’d seen pictures and video from inside the chambers, I wasn’t sure that it was possible to enter, nor indeed if I would want to. However, looking into the entrance to the northern (right hand) and largest entrance, I could see that just a few feet of passage separated the outside from the chamber, so I donned my headtorch and entered, needing not much more than a stooping crouch to do so. In the might of the chamber, my little camping headtorch proved useless, but after a while of being inside, and my eyes had started to adapt to the low light which was entering through the passage.

The northern chamber is a double chamber, and the most obvious part to go in is to the right, and once in, and letting my eyes acclimatise, the stonework of the chamber can be made out, possibly exactly the same as had been built 6500 years ago, and with the most incredible corbelled roof, which looks like it has kept all the rain and storms out perfectly for all that time. By now Dad was wondering if he should come in, so I said why not, it was wonderful in here, just be careful because you can’t see anything to start with, and his eyes are bad enough at the best of times. After a while, Dad’s eyes had settled, and he said he could see much better in the low light than in full daylight, and he too was in awe of the construction and age of this chamber. I then got my camera out, to try and take a few pictures, and was amazed that despite it originally seeming pitch black inside, the newfangled modern thing was able to cope, and indeed took some very good pictur

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Re: Île Carn by neolithique02 on Friday, 28 February 2014
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Visit of the island on video :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZiLKd4LioSk

[ Reply to This ]
    Re: Île Carn by TheCaptain on Friday, 28 February 2014
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    Excellent. Many thanks for posting this, I now no longer feel I completely missed out on this !
    [ Reply to This ]
      Re: Île Carn by neolithique02 on Friday, 28 February 2014
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      You're welcome Captain,

      Before visiting the island, my advice is to check the tide schedule :
      http://www.horaire-maree.fr/maree/Ploudalm%C3%A9zeau/
      [ Reply to This ]
      Re: Île Carn by TheCaptain on Thursday, 20 March 2014
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      A plan is coming together.....
      [ Reply to This ]
        Re: Île Carn by neolithique02 on Friday, 18 April 2014
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        Hi Captain,

        I am pleased to see that you went back there.
        Did you find Easter eggs on Carn island ???

        Manu
        [ Reply to This ]
          Re: Île Carn by TheCaptain on Saturday, 19 April 2014
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          Hi Manu.

          The plan came together well, but with just one day to visit, spent so long on the Island that we had no time to visit several other sites planned for the same day. But it didn't matter, as Ile Carn is so special. I was not expecting to be able to enter, but everything felt so serene and calm, that not only myself, but my 85 year old father entered both open chambers, taking me back to my potholing days!. Inside, after 10 mins and getting used to the dark, we could clearly see the immaculate 6500 year old construction of the corbelled cells, and everything had a wonderful calm atmosphere. Unlike so many other ancient chambers, no signs of the modern world, no graffiti or rubbish or fires. All was perfect.

          A most incredible place, with just a few birds and rabbits to share it with. (no Easter eggs!).

          I'd recommend to everybody, but I wont, as it should be kept special.
          [ Reply to This ]
            Re: Île Carn by neolithique02 on Saturday, 19 April 2014
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            Hi Captain,

            100% agree with you, It is such a special place !
            I will be soon (re)visiting another very special place close to Salisbury (I want to sse the New visitor centor, to see the new gallery in Devizes museum and to spend more time around Avebury). Just to say that on both side of the channel we do have so many "special" place...
            [ Reply to This ]

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