1 The megalith of Gavrinis was built around 3500 BC on a small island in the Gulf of Morbihan, Brittany. The tomb occupies the highest point on this island and could be seen for miles away. Such a monument provided an important focal point for the communities in the surrounding area.
2 This tomb is called a passage grave, as it has a long narrow corridor. It is one of the longest passage graves in Brittany with a length of no less than 45 ft (14 m). The sides, ceilings and floors are constructed of large stones, predominantly of granite.
3 The entrance of this tomb, like those of many other megaliths, faces south-east. It has been suggested that it was aligned so that on the day of the summer solstice, the sun's rays would shine along the passage to illuminate the back of the chamber.
4 Gavrinis is particularly famous for its numerous and well preserved carvings. Some of the most common motifs are triangles, 'U's and wavy lines. On the lower part of this stone we can see boxed 'U's and dots. The upper part is decorated with wavy lines, which might represent snakes.
5 This stone shows a square box with a knob on top. This has been interpreted as an anthropomorphic (human-shaped) figure, possibly a female goddess or guardian spirit. The crook-shaped figures in the left corner might represent tools, like the axes found on other stones.
6 Axes were a popular motif in megalithic art. On this stone we see no less than eighteen axe heads carved in relief. Their blades have splayed cutting edges and are worked in great detail. Such images of weapons might have been intended to protect the tomb from unwanted intruders.
7 This sillstone marks the transition to the burial chamber. No grave goods were found in this tomb, leaving few clues about its usage. It was probably a burial place but its size and ornamental decoration suggest it was also a shrine or sanctuary.
8 This is one of the most remarkable stones found in this tomb. It contains three hand-sized holes of 4 in (10 cm) depth, with a rim between them as if to form a handle. A similar stone has been found in Newgrange, Ireland. Such stones may have had a ritual purpose.
9 The transitions between the decorations of adjoining stones in the chamber in some cases are surprisingly gradual. Patterns seem to cross over from one stone to the other. This has been used as evidence to support the idea that the stones were carved after the tomb was built.
10 Much effort went into the tomb, perhaps at the instigation of community leaders who wished to emphasize their links with the ancestors buried in the tomb. No bones of these ancestors survive at Gavrinis, where they have been destroyed by the acid soil.
100 The megalith of Gavrinis was built around 3500 BC on a small island in the Gulf of Morbihan, Brittany. The tomb occupies the highest point on this island and could be seen for miles away. Such a monument provided an important focal point for the communities in the surrounding area.
