Carl Ashcroft wrote:
Hi
My wife and I have just relocated to Barneville-Carteret in Normandy and I found your site as I was keen to see what there was here in terms of megalithic structures.
I have tried to find the allee couverte at La Haye d'Ectot but could not using the location on the map on your site which is just off the D130. I looked around the area for a whole morning. Unfortunately the Mairie is closed until January. However I did bump into a man out hunting who directed me to what he believed was the correct site in a different valley further north over the other side of the valley and closer to the spring at La Taille.. He said it was a large rock balanced on three smaller rocks.
I headed up in that direction and just happened to bump into the land owner who knew what I was talking about and said that there was indeed an allee couverte on his land where I have put the most northerly circle. He described it like the hunter did ie one large rock balanced on three smaller rocks. He said he had found it a few years back when an english lady came looking for the same thing.
I searched the area I was directed to and came across a linear feature at that location that to my untrained eyes appeared to be a large and regular field boundary marked on the map. There were some large rocks at one point that could be taken for an allee couverte but no large rock on three smaller ones that I could see. It seems to me just to be a long wall albeit with very large blocks. The large blocks looked fresh and not weathered at all. My search was hampered by the state of the area being completely overgrown. I will send photos later.
So just where the allee couverte is I can not completely say. It would be interesting to compare the original location information you have with the OS map to see if they correspond in anyway. If it is indeed where the map on your site says it is well then I have to say it has probably been robbed out - my wife who is French says she woudn't be at all surprised! (Ed's note. Note portal accuracy rating of 2, ie to nearest village).
I would be surprised but delighted if what I was shown is the correct location. If you wish I can send you photos/videos of what I found and the location on the French OS (presumably ign - ed) map I have. Interestingly the French OS map has the location of the other allee coverte in the area on your site in the same place as you have it but does not show the allee couverte at La Haye d'Ectot at all. A mystery so far :0/
Kindest Regards
> Carl
Something is not right. This message is just to keep things from messing up down the road