France

Hotié de Viviane

Neolithic funerary coffer in Brittany, France

Location

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Historical Context

About

Hotié, Hostié or Maison de Viviane (English: House of Viviane), also known as Tombeau des Druides (English: Druids' Tomb) is a megalithic tomb in Paimpont, Ille-et-Vilaine, in Brittany. The Hotié de Viviane is one of the prehistoric monuments in the Forest of Brocéliande cursorily described in the 19th century, but more recently, following the fires that have periodically devastated the forest, rediscovered and excavated by local groups. Legend makes it the home of the fairy Viviane, where she held the enchanter Merlin imprisoned. Another legend equates it with the esplumoir Merlin. When the location of the Val sans retour, a place figuring in medieval Arthurian literature, was identified with the Val de Rauco in the 19th century, the megalithic site near the Gurvant valley took the name of Hotié de Viviane. Hotié de Viviane is also sometimes identified as Tombeau de Viviane (English: Tomb of Viviane).

Paleolithic
Mesolithic
Neolithic
Chalcolithic
Bronze Age
Iron Age
Classical Period
Post-Classical Period
Early Modern Period
Industrial Period
Contemporary Period
Temporal Epochs

Historical Timeline

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Radiocarbon dating

3,355–2,890 BC

Romantic-era association

19th century

Bellamy affirmation

1896

Excavation

1982–1983

Construction

c. 3500–2500 BC

Classification

Archaeological Features

Unique architectural and cultural elements found at this historical site

category

Burial and Funerary Structures

DolmensTombsGravesBurial Mounds
category

Environmental and Natural Features

Artificial Mounds
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Reference

Details

Country

France

Coordinates

48.00° N, -2.27° E