It is normal for institutions to defend themselves in a crisis situation but, implicitly, the remarks made by the DRAC, the prefect of Morbihan and the town hall of Carnac underline the extent of the problem revealed by Sites & Monuments. In 2014, the “SAS Au Marché des Druids” had applied for a permit to build a supermarket. The DRAC had then prescribed an archaeological diagnosis on 6% of the land concerned. The diagnosis carried out revealed the existence of two rows of at least 38 monoliths in total, displaced or in place, some of which bear traces of erosion characteristic of Neolithic alignments.
By order of July 31, 2015, the Prefect of the Region prescribed a preventive excavation before any development of the plot due to the presence of standing monoliths “which could very well correspond to the remains of a megalithic work of the alignment type”.
The developer, the town hall of Carnac and the prefect of the department could not be unaware of the existence of this decree of which they received notification or a copy. The site was also referenced since 2015 on the atlas of heritage established by the DRAC and appeared on the indicative list of the project to register the megaliths of Carnac as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
However, a second building permit, issued in 2022 to a “SCI des Menhirs” and an « SAS Bricodolmen »led to the destruction of the monoliths without prior excavation and without study of the blocks, despite the prefectural decree of July 31, 2015.
While strongly condemning the threats to which the mayor of Carnac was the victim and without bringing any charges in this case, the Koun Breizh and Sites & Monuments associations believe that all the light must be shed to identify the flaws that led to the destruction of the monoliths and establish everyone’s responsibilities.
To this end, the Koun Breizh association has filed a complaint against X, a complaint to which Sites & Monuments will join. A criminal investigation has now been opened and entrusted to the Lorient Research Brigade.
The DRAC affirms today that the destroyed megalithic elements were not of a “major archaeological interest”. How can such conclusions be drawn when the excavations of the area have not been carried out and the said elements have not been able to benefit from modern dating techniques? Will we one day be able to measure the extent of the disaster when, a few meters away, stand the oldest menhirs of the western facade, that is to say the cradle of megalithic civilization?
The associations also regret that the Prefect of the Region only thinks of avoiding this major dysfunction, not explaining how an area subject to a prefectural decree imposing excavations can find itself at the mercy of the first builder to come.
Koun Breizh and Sites & Monuments therefore ask the Minister of Culture to shed light on this major dysfunction by launching an administrative inspection mission.
They also intend to explore together any legal remedy in this case through their lawyer, Me Le Néel.
Koun Brezh would like building permits issued in protected areas to be entrusted to a single authority, the Brittany region, in order to give priority to the general interest over particular interests.
Finally, the associations regret that the public authorities pay so little attention to the safeguarding of regional heritage – known as “small estates” – in their archaeological, monumental, cultural or linguistic components.
Yvon OLLIVIER, President of Koun Breizh
Julien LACAZE, President of Sites & Monuments – SPPEF
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