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Coeur de Birette
Trip No.205 Entry No.12 Date Added: 13th Oct 2020
Site Type: Polissoir
Country: France (Centre:Indre-et-Loire (37))
Visited: Yes on 30th Aug 2005. My rating: Condition 4 Ambience 3 Access 4
Coeur de Birette submitted by thecaptain on 17th Jun 2008. In the gardens of the Chateau de Grand Pressigny is a polissoir stone called (I believe) the Coeur de Birette, moved to here from the nearby village of Le Petit Pressigny.
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Log Text: In the gardens of the Chateau de Grand Pressigny are, amongst many other things, a polissoir stone called (I believe) the Coeur de Birette ???.
Grand-Pressigny Musée de la Préhistoire
Trip No.205 Entry No.11 Date Added: 13th Oct 2020
Site Type: Museum
Country: France (Centre:Indre-et-Loire (37))
Visited: Yes on 30th Aug 2005. My rating: Condition 5 Ambience 5 Access 4
Grand-Pressigny Musée de la Préhistoire submitted by thecaptain on 9th Aug 2008. Fabulous museum of prehistory contained within the remains of the ruined Chateau de Grand Pressigny.
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Log Text: Museum of prehistory contained within the remains of the ruined Chateau de Grand Pressigny, this is a wonderful place to visit. In a little village on the edge of a plateau, the castle is on a steep sided headland with a huge ditch cut to protect it from the fourth side. This place has been lived in and defended since the year dot. For €4 entry fee, you not only get to visit the castle, but also a fossils exhibition, the prehistory museum, and any other temporary exhibitions that may be held here. The castle is excellent, with curtain walls and towers, dungeons, an excellent gatehouse, a superb keep, a large tower and some magnificent cellars and underground passages crossing from one side to the other, all of which can be visited. In the gardens are, amongst many other things, a polissoir stone (called the Coeur de Birette?) and a bit of an iron age stele.
The chateau is right in the middle of one of the greatest prehistoric regions in the world, where people have lived since before people existed. Cave shelters etc have been identified which go back millions of years. And then there is the silex (flint) for which this region is world renowned. This is a yellowish kind of flint which occurs in huge nodules (livres de beurre), which can be split into many fine and long blades, and which have been worked here for an eternity. Blades up to 30 cm long have been found in the region, and they were traded to places all over western Europe. This is one of the most important places in the western world until the advent of the bronze age. In the prehistory museum, there are some wonderful items, ranging from the ancient paleolithic up to the iron age and then the coming of the Romans. Superb.
Pierre Chaude
Trip No.205 Entry No.10 Date Added: 13th Oct 2020
Site Type: Burial Chamber or Dolmen
Country: France (Centre:Indre-et-Loire (37))
Visited: Yes on 30th Aug 2005. My rating: Condition 4 Ambience 4 Access 5
Pierre Chaude submitted by thecaptain on 27th Feb 2006. The informative noticeboard.
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Log Text: About a kilometre to the east of the village of Neuilly, on the road to Paulmy, can be found this nice dolmen, about 50 metres to the south of the road in a hazlenut grove, and signposted.
The dolmen has a large single capstone which is now broken, sat on top of 6 support stones making a rectangular chamber about 3 metres by 3 metres internal dimensions, and almost 2 metres high at the top. The entrance to the dolmen is through a cut side stone at the eastern side, which has the opening made at the top.
The dolmen was excavated in the 19th century, and several skeletons were found, along with animal bones, polished stones, flint items and pottery. Nearby is the permanent spring of Fonteny, about 200 metres to the south.
La Pierre Fondue
Trip No.205 Entry No.9 Date Added: 13th Oct 2020
Site Type: Burial Chamber or Dolmen
Country: France (Centre:Indre-et-Loire (37))
Visited: Yes on 30th Aug 2005. My rating: Condition 4 Ambience 3 Access 4
La Pierre Fondue submitted by thecaptain on 24th Feb 2006. The rectangular chamber faces almost due south. There are a few other stones, suggesting either a continuation of the chamber, or perhaps an Angevine portal entrance, but these are fallen and it is not easy to tell exactly what.
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Log Text: This dolmen can be found about 100 metres up a track behind the hamlet of Bommiers, which is a couple of kilometres to the south of the village of Sainte-Maure-de-Touraine down the N.10. It is about one kilometre to the north of the Pierre Percée. Once you reach the hamlet, it is signposted, and sits in a field which had been harvested when I was here, so was able to visit the dolmen properly.
The dolmen has a single capstone sitting 2 metres high on top of two large side supports and a backstone, and seems to have been moved to the back where it overhangs a lot. The rectangular chamber is about 4 metres by 2.5 metres in size, and faces almost due south. There are a few other stones at the southern end, suggesting either a continuation of the chamber, or perhaps an Angevine portal entrance, but these are fallen and it is not easy to tell what.
Pierre Percée (Draché)
Trip No.205 Entry No.8 Date Added: 13th Oct 2020
Site Type: Standing Stone (Menhir)
Country: France (Centre:Indre-et-Loire (37))
Visited: Yes on 30th Aug 2005. My rating: Condition 5 Ambience 3 Access 4
Pierre Percée (Draché) submitted by thecaptain on 15th Jan 2006. The stone is about 3.5 metres tall, slightly leaning and pointing skywards. About two thirds of the way up is an intriguing hole through the stone, oval in shape, about 25 cm by 20 cm.
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Log Text: A few kilometres to the south of the village of Sainte-Maure-de-Touraine along the N.10, and this stone is signposted, less than a kilometre to the west along a minor road. The stone has its own little parking area and explanatory signpost, and is set in a nice open grassy area.
The stone is about 3.5 metres tall, slightly leaning and pointing skywards. About two thirds of the way up is an intriguing hole through the stone, oval in shape, about 25 cm by 20 cm, which is perhaps natural.
This menhir has many legends associated with it, and it is said that if children or babies are passed through the hole, they will be cured and immune to various diseases. There is also a legend that the stone was used for sacrifices, and that all of the parts of the sacrificial body must be passed through the hole. It is thought that it may originally have been some form of marker stone for a nearby ancient cemetery, now no longer to be seen.
Pierre Potelée
Trip No.205 Entry No.7 Date Added: 13th Oct 2020
Site Type: Standing Stone (Menhir)
Country: France (Pays de la Loire:Sarthe (72))
Visited: Yes on 29th Aug 2005. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 3 Access 4
Pierre Potelée submitted by thecaptain on 22nd Feb 2006. This menhir, in the forest to the northeast of La Fleche in Sarthe, is a slab standing on its end, between 2.5 and 3 metres tall, and 2 metres wide, with many holes on one side.
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Log Text: This stone is about half a kilometre east of the Mere et Fille stones in the forest and is also signposted. I parked in a parking area near to the signpost and walked for several kilometres before returning to my van having found nothing except for more signposts at the other end of the forest track pointing back from where I had come. As I got back to the van, I could see the stone, less than 100 metres from where I had parked, down a different track ! The stone is a slab on its end, between 2.5 and 3 metres tall, and 2 metres wide, with many holes on one side.
Pierres de Mère et Fille
Trip No.205 Entry No.6 Date Added: 13th Oct 2020
Site Type: Standing Stones
Country: France (Pays de la Loire:Sarthe (72))
Visited: Yes on 29th Aug 2005. My rating: Condition 4 Ambience 4 Access 5
Pierres de Mère et Fille submitted by thecaptain on 22nd Feb 2006. The mother and daughter stones can be easily found in the forest to the northeast of La Fleche, and are signposted from nearby.
The mother stone is more than 4 metres tall, and is the western of the pair. The daughter is just over 2 metres tall, and at the east.
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Log Text: The mother and daughter stones can be easily found in the forest to the northeast of La Fleche, and are signposted from nearby. Both are nicely shaped pointed slabs, and they are about 8 metres from each other in an east west direction. The mother stone is more than 4 metres tall, and is the western of the pair, The daughter is just over 2 metres tall, and at the east. It is stated on a nearby signpost that the stones are thought to represent the sun and moon, although the evidence for this is not stated.
la Pierre Couverte (Parigné)
Trip No.205 Entry No.5 Date Added: 13th Oct 2020
Site Type: Burial Chamber or Dolmen
Country: France (Pays de la Loire:Sarthe (72))
Visited: Yes on 29th Aug 2005. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 4 Access 4
la Pierre Couverte (Parigné) submitted by thecaptain on 22nd Feb 2006. This dolmen can be fairly easily found at a junction of tracks in the Bois de Bruon, near to Parigné-le-Pôlin, a few kilometres south of Le Mans, and just off the N23 road.
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Log Text: This dolmen can be fairly easily found at a junction of tracks in the Bois de Bruon, near to Parigné-le-Pôlin, a few kilometres south of Le Mans, and just off the N23 road. The largish capstone, 4 m by 3.5 m, sits on top of 4 collapsed support stones, with another one nearby. its a pleasant little walk along a forest track from where I parked the van.
Menhir dit Pierre Saint-Julien
Trip No.205 Entry No.4 Date Added: 13th Oct 2020
Site Type: Standing Stone (Menhir)
Country: France (Pays de la Loire:Sarthe (72))
Visited: Yes on 29th Aug 2005. My rating: Condition 5 Ambience 3 Access 4
Menhir dit Pierre Saint-Julien submitted by thecaptain on 17th Oct 2005. Pierre Saint Julien menhir stands at the corner of Le Mans Cathedral, just outside the main entrance.
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Log Text: Pierre Saint Julien is a 3.5 metre tall menhir, stood outside the main entrance to St Julien Cathedral, Le Mans. It is a truly lovely stone, made from a very heavily stratified, and vividly coloured rock. From certain angles, and in the right light, it looks for all the world to be a man dressed in hooded cloak stood outside the entrance of this sacred place. I do not know where the stone originally came from.
Menhir de la Croix Carrée (Landigou)
Trip No.205 Entry No.2 Date Added: 13th Oct 2020
Site Type: Standing Stone (Menhir)
Country: France (Normandie:Orne (61))
Visited: Yes on 29th Aug 2005. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 3 Access 5
Menhir de la Croix Carrée (Landigou) submitted by thecaptain on 22nd Feb 2006. Menhir de la Croix Carrée (Landigou)
Looking for a menhir marked on my map, I could find nothing, so asked a lady walking her dog, and she directed me to this roadside cross, a couple of kilometres away.
It has a historic monument signpost, which states that it is a megalithic monument of unknown origin.
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Log Text: Looking for a menhir marked on my map, I could find nothing, so asked a lady walking her dog, and she directed me to this roadside cross. It has a historic monument signpost, which states that it is a megalithic monument of unknown origin. About 1.2 metres tall, it is of square section, with large crosses carved into each face, joining each other around the corners. Perhaps it was once a menhir, perhaps once an iron age stele. Its hard to tell. But it is not the menhir I was looking for !
Peninnis Head
Date Added: 11th Oct 2020
Site Type: Cairn
Country: England (Isles of Scilly)
Visited: Yes on 17th Jul 2003
Peninnis Head submitted by Bladup on 11th Jun 2022. Peninnis Head Outcrop
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Log Text: Sailing trip from Plymouth over to the Scilly Isles. While ashore, have a walk around Peninnis Head.
Peninnis Head Boundary
Date Added: 11th Oct 2020
Site Type: Misc. Earthwork
Country: England (Isles of Scilly)
Visited: Yes on 17th Jul 2003
Log Text: Sailing trip from Plymouth over to the Scilly Isles. While ashore, have a walk around Peninnis Head.
Buzza Hill
Date Added: 11th Oct 2020
Site Type: Burial Chamber or Dolmen
Country: England (Isles of Scilly)
Visited: Yes on 17th Jul 2003
Buzza Hill submitted by paulcall on 17th Oct 2006. There are two pairs of stones facing the chamber, one pair in the foreground and one pair to the left. They seem rather far away to be part of the original structure.
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Log Text: Sailing trip from Plymouth over to the Scilly Isles. While ashore, have a walk around Peninnis Head.
Gweal Hill, Bryher
Date Added: 11th Oct 2020
Site Type: Chambered Tomb
Country: England (Isles of Scilly)
Visited: Yes on 9th Sep 1986
Gweal Hill, Bryher submitted by paulcall on 22nd Oct 2007. This view looks south over the southwestern cairn of the three on Gweal Hill.
The central cist can be seen centre-left, and there are two rings of kerbs both of which can just be seen on this photo, although the whole mound is now greatly weathered by its position on the most westernmost point of the inhabited islands on Scilly.
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Log Text: During a 2 week sailing trip with friends, we spent the day on Tresco then in the evening I rowed myself over to Bryher to have a look at the place and watch the sun go down from Gweal Hill
Castle Down, Tresco
Date Added: 11th Oct 2020
Site Type: Chambered Tomb
Country: England (Isles of Scilly)
Visited: Yes on 9th Sep 1986
Castle Down, Tresco submitted by Thorgrim on 4th Aug 2004. Entrace grave on the south slope of Tregarthen Hill
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Log Text: During a 2 week sailing trip with friends, we spent the day on Tresco, exploring the gardens and walking round most of the island.
Porth Hellick Down
Date Added: 11th Oct 2020
Site Type: Burial Chamber or Dolmen
Country: England (Isles of Scilly)
Visited: Yes on 8th Sep 1986
Porth Hellick submitted by Thorgrim on 2nd Jul 2003. Porth Hellick Down entrance grave on St Mary's, Scilly SV 9284 1083. This is the largest and best preserved out of a complex of 8 on the Downs.
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Log Text: During a 2 week sailing trip with friends, I left the rest of the crew to sail L'Aurian from St Mary's all the way round the Western Rocks and in to New Grimsby harbour, Tresco for the night. I spent the day walking round the entire coast of St Mary's visiting many ancient sites, before catching a ferry over to Bryher in the evening and getting picked up by the crew.
Normandy Down
Date Added: 11th Oct 2020
Site Type: Chambered Cairn
Country: England (Isles of Scilly)
Visited: Yes on 8th Sep 1986
Normandy Down submitted by paulcall on 31st Oct 2006. A view of the delapidated easterly entrance grave looking north towards St Martin's. This grave gets trodden on a lot, as it is not normally covered in scrub like the other two. There are more stones to be seen here, but they are rather a jumble.
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Log Text: During a 2 week sailing trip with friends, I left the rest of the crew to sail L'Aurian from St Mary's all the way round the Western Rocks and in to New Grimsby harbour, Tresco for the night. I spent the day walking round the entire coast of St Mary's visiting many ancient sites, before catching a ferry over to Bryher in the evening and getting picked up by the crew.
Toll's Island
Date Added: 11th Oct 2020
Site Type: Misc. Earthwork
Country: England (Isles of Scilly)
Visited: Yes on 8th Sep 1986
Toll's Island submitted by hoya105 on 20th Jul 2019. Toll's Island.
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Log Text: During a 2 week sailing trip with friends, I left the rest of the crew to sail L'Aurian from St Mary's all the way round the Western Rocks and in to New Grimsby harbour, Tresco for the night. I spent the day walking round the entire coast of St Mary's visiting many ancient sites, before catching a ferry over to Bryher in the evening and getting picked up by the crew.
Innisidgen Lower
Date Added: 11th Oct 2020
Site Type: Burial Chamber or Dolmen
Country: England (Isles of Scilly)
Visited: Yes on 8th Sep 1986
Innisidgen Lower submitted by enkidu41 on 27th Apr 2004. A poorly preserved entrance grave. Most of the roofing stones have disappeared although the passage is still clearly visible.
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Log Text: During a 2 week sailing trip with friends, I left the rest of the crew to sail L'Aurian from St Mary's all the way round the Western Rocks and in to New Grimsby harbour, Tresco for the night. I spent the day walking round the entire coast of St Mary's visiting many ancient sites, before catching a ferry over to Bryher in the evening and getting picked up by the crew.
Innisidgen Upper
Date Added: 11th Oct 2020
Site Type: Burial Chamber or Dolmen
Country: England (Isles of Scilly)
Visited: Yes on 8th Sep 1986
Innisidgen Upper submitted by enkidu41 on 27th Apr 2004. SV 9220 1265
This entrance grave on St. Mary's comprises a 26' diameter mound and an 18' long entrance passage roofed with 5 large capstones.
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Log Text: During a 2 week sailing trip with friends, I left the rest of the crew to sail L'Aurian from St Mary's all the way round the Western Rocks and in to New Grimsby harbour, Tresco for the night. I spent the day walking round the entire coast of St Mary's visiting many ancient sites, before catching a ferry over to Bryher in the evening and getting picked up by the crew.