Newly discovered standing stones in France shed light on the ancient megalith builders
Archaeologists in Carnac, northwest France, have used aerial drones to identify previously unknown stones buried beneath the surface
In Brittany, western France, over 6,000 years ago, farmers erected around 3,000 standing stones in long rows that stretched for more than 4 kilometers. These builders placed shorter stones on the eastern side of the arrangement while taller ones, some nearly 4 meters high, were positioned to the west. They also constructed semicircular and rectangular enclosures, as well as hearths near the stones' irregular granite forms for cooking or light, and buried their dead in earth mounds and megalithic tombs throughout the sacred landscape.
Despite the site's global significance, little excavation had been conducted at Carnac compared to other archaeological sites of similar importance. A recent study in the journal Archaeological Prospection by Guillaume Bruniaux and colleagues used geophysical techniques to investigate the area and revealed additional buried standing stones, burial mounds, and cooking stone pits.
These new findings suggest the site was larger than previously thought, and may provide new insights into the megalith builders. The mystery of the stones' purpose, whether they were used to monitor celestial movements, serve as a calendar, or hold another meaning, remains unresolved.
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