Was CARNAC A Huge Astronomical Observatory?

The enigmatic Carnac alignments in France make up one of the most ancient and unusual megalithic sites in Europe. Stretching for several kilometres, the complex includes more than 3,000 standing stones, as well as dolmens and burial mounds.

Some researchers think the Carnac alignments were part of a huge megalithic observatory connected to other sites in the area. But if this is true, what role did the many other megaliths on the Atlantic coast, from Iberia to Ireland, play in the Neolithic? Were they also astronomical observatories and if so why are they so different in outward appearance?

The Carnac alignments are in Brittany, an area with other famous Neolithic monuments such as the Locmariaquer megaliths and the Gavrinis passage tomb. One enormous megalith referred to as the Broken Menhir of Er Grah would have stood at twenty metres tall before it collapsed and broke into four pieces around six thousand years ago.

The area is also home to some of the best examples of megalithic art. In this video I explore what's known about the Carnac alignments and other monuments in that part of northwestern France and discuss a research paper that suggests the megalith building tradition may have originated there.

#ancienthistory #Carnac #France #megalithic

✨ IN THIS EPISODE

00:00 Introduction
00:36 The Atlantic Route
02:20 Stone Rows
05:01 As Astronomical Function
06:58 A Megalithic Landscape
06:58 A Megalithic Landscape
09:18 Origins of Megalithism

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✨ REFERENCES

Carnac Tourism includes maps of the sites and access information:
https://www.carnactourism.co.uk/

Schulz Paulsson, B., 2019. Radiocarbon dates and Bayesian modeling support maritime diffusion model for megaliths in Europe. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 116(9), pp.3460-3465.

Thom, A. and Thom, A.S., 1971. The astronomical significance of the Large Carnac Menhirs. Journal for the History of Astronomy, 2, p.147-50.

Thom, A. and Thom, A.S., 1972. The Carnac Alignments. Journal for the History of Astronomy, 3, p.11.

✨ MUSIC CREDIT

Music I Use: https://www.bensound.com/free-music-f...
License code: YD3SKFJMVNDTLWEX

✨ PHOTOGRAPH CREDITS

Google Earth
Ménec alignments location
Kermario alignments location
Kerlescan alignments location

CC BY-SA 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/...
Carnac alignments, credit: Karsten Wentink
Moustoir tumulus, credit: Petro
Manio Quadrilateral, credit: François de Dijon
Broken Menhir of Er Grah, credit: Karsten Wentink
Er Grah Menhir in a row of 19, credit: Kenny Arne Lang Antonsen
Gavrinis passage tomb, credit: Pierre F631
Gavrinis decorated corridor, credit: Ismoon

CC BY-SA 3.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/...
Thumbnail: Kermario alignments, credit: Marek.69
Ménec alignments, credit: Jackogamer
Kermario alignments, credit: Marek.69
Kerlescan alignments, credit: Marek.69
Petit-Ménec alignments, credit: Poulpy
Petit-Ménec alignments, credit: Wikinade
Saint-Michel tumulus, credit: Jl-Ele
Kercado dolmen, credit: Michael Kranewitter
Covered Table des Marchand, credit: Myrabella
Er Grah Tumulus, credit: Kamel15.

Public domain
Manio Giant
Original Table des Marchand