Menhir de Kerellou

The Menhir de Kerellou is a standing stone, or menhir, at Guerlesquin in the Finistère department of France. It is estimated to date from 2800 BCE to 1800 BCE by typological comparison. Menhirs are large upright stones placed by people, and Brittany is notable for the density of monuments of this kind and the variety of their forms.

The stone is a block of porphyritic granite about 6 m high. Its lower part has been regularized, while its upper part has suffered heavy erosion, including the detachment of slabs. It remains standing in its setting at Guerlesquin.

The Menhir de Kerellou was first mentioned in 1846 by G. Le Jean. It was classified as a historic monument by decree of 15 March 1909. Its date is a typological estimate rather than a date fixed by an excavation or other direct study described here.

The stone is known in local folklore as Kegel ar Wrac'h Goz or Kegel ar Mam Goz. These names mean “the distaff of the old witch” and “the distaff of the old mother,” respectively, with the latter identifying a benevolent fairy. More than 1,200 menhirs are known in north-western France alone.

Menhir de Kerellou is a menhir (standing stone) in Guerlesquin, France. A typological estimate: 2800 BCE to 1800 BCE. No English Wikipedia article exists for it; the full text below is the French article "Menhir de Kerellou", shown in the original language.