451 



Samuel rEKGusoj?", Q. C, read — 



An Account of fuhtheb, Exploeations at Locmariaquek, 

 IN Beittany. 



Since the discovery of the inscribed stones at the sepulchral monument 

 called Mane Nelud, of which the writer gave an account at the meeting 

 of the Academy on the 9th J^ovember, explorations attended with va- 

 luable results have been made at the Mane Nelud, and at another tu- 

 mulus of the Locmariaquer group called the Butte de Ccesar. These 

 operations have been instituted by M. Lefebvre, Prefect, and carried 

 out by M. Eene Galles, Military Sub-Intendant of the Department of 

 Morbihan. To M. Galles the writer is indebted for the facts of which 

 he submitted a summary, with some illustrations and comments grounded 

 on his own observation. 



The expectation of finding a sepulchral chamber in the eastern end 

 of the Mane Nelud was not realized. The only substruction discovered 

 there consisted of a range of stones, set on end, crossing the breadth of 

 the mound. Parallel to this, and nearer to the centre, was a trench 

 cut in the under soil, filled with large stones, which appear to have 

 undergone the action of fire. In the earth of which the body of the 

 mound is composed, near the upright stones, were found the bones of 

 several heads of horses. 



The exploration of the Butte de CcBsar was more fruitful in results. 

 This tumulus lies about half a mile south from the Mane Nelud, on the 

 opposite side of the little town of Locmariaquer, overlooking the strait 

 which connects the estuary or inland sea of Morbihan with the outer 

 waters of the Bay of Quiberon. It is called, in Breton, Mane - er-Hr out ch, 

 that is, the Mount of the Pairy or Goblin, a name which argues igno- 

 rance of its real origin amongst those who have so designated it. It is 

 of grander dimensions than the Mane Nelud ; composed of dry stone with 

 a thin coating of vegetable soil; in form, an oval of 110 yards in its 

 major, by 66 yards in its minor diameter; and 33 feet high. Two rude 

 stone obelisks, or menhirs, 27 and 25 feet high, respectively, formerly 

 stood outside the base at the northern side. They are now fallen and 

 broken, as are all the other menhirs at Locmariaquer, including the great 

 one, the fragments of which collectively measure 67 feet, adjoining the 

 Merchants' Table tomb. 



The process of excavation was begun from above. In the ex- 

 ternal stratum of earth, eleven medals of Poman Emperors, from 

 Tiberius to Trajan, were found, together with fragments of bronze, 

 glass, and pottery. Lower down amongst the dry stones forming 

 the ibulk of the tumulus, were found beads in coloured terra cotta ; 

 and at a depth of about 1 5 feet a blue-veined glass bead, which, how- 

 ever, may have dropped from above in the course of excavation. At 

 22 feet, after precautions taken to prevent the descent of objects from 



