The OLDEST TOMBS on Earth? Megalithic Origins (4900 - 2700 BC) | Ancient History Documentary

The entire history of the megalith builders of Neolithic France’s western Brittany region from the migration and rise of the first farmers to the demise of the culture. This feature length documentary shows how the famous megalithic monuments of Britain and Ireland, such as Stonehenge, derive from much earlier ones in Brittany. Who were the first farmers in France? Why did they start building the impressive megalithic chambered tombs or the enormous standing stones known as menhirs? This documentary looks at the world’s first tombs, some close to 7000 years old, and traces the development of the dolmens and other tombs from 5000 BC to 2700 BC. We also learn how the first farmers interacted with the Mesolithic Western Hunter Gatherers who were already there, and how they may have influenced this megalithic monument tradition. Learn how the exquisite jadeite axe heads of the Neolithic were symbols of power imported from the far away Alps. We visited the tombs of Gavrinis, Petit Mont, Table des Marchands, the Barrow tomb of Kercado and the truly ancient Saint-Michel tumulus among others. You will also learn about the 4 mile long alignments of Carnac and what they were made for. The adventure starts at the 9 maidens stones in Cornwall and ends on the stunning coasts of Morbihan in Brittany. Sponsor: Filter out bad films, and love cinema again! This channel depends on your support: Patreon: Subscribe star: All Links: Drone and additional camera work in Cornwall by @ROTPband Sources: -Cassidy el al (2016) | -Cassidy, L.M., Maoldúin, R.Ó., Kador, T. et al. A dynastic elite in monumental Neolithic society. (2020). -Fowler, C., Olalde, I., Cummings, V. et al. A high-resolution picture of kinship practices in an Early Neolithic tomb. Nature 601, 584–587 (2022). - Paulsson, B. S., (2018) - Petrequin, P. et production and circulation of alpine jade axe-heads (2016) - Rivollat et al., 2015 - Scarre, Chris, ’The Study of Neolithic Brittany’, Landscapes of Neolithic Brittany (Oxford, 2011; online edn, Oxford Academic, 16 Mar. 2015) - Shennan, S. “The First Farmers of Europe” (2018) - Le Roux, C-T., 1999a. L’outillage de pierre polie en métadolérite ue type A. Les ateliers de Plussulien (Côtes-d”Armor): production et diffusion au Néolithique dans la France de l’ouest et au-delà. Rennes: Travaux du Laboratoire Anthropologie. Préhistoire et Quaternaire Armoricains -Le Roy et al.,Funerary behaviour of Neolithic necropolises and collective graves in France. Evidence from Gurgy «Les Noisats» (Middle Neolithic) and Passy/Veron «La Truie Pendue» (Late Neolithic) (2014) -Whittle, A., ‘Very Like a Whale’: Menhirs, Motifs and Myths in the Mesolithic–Neolithic Transition of Northwest Europe. 2000. Art: Ryan Murray, Alex Cristi, Christian Sloan Hall Music: GRAAL KNYGHT — minihapa Wolcensmen - sunne Bark Sound Productions - Vlv Kevin McLeod - Rites Ormgård - Sjálfsforn Chris Zabriskie - I am running geographer - jay sweeps Quincas moreira - Dawn_of_Man Vanguard - a brighter dawn Realization of a New Earth - I Think I Can Help You White hex - Light_and_Air Patrick Patrikios - away Xuros - Steppe Expansion 00:00 Introduction 01:54 Cornish megalithic monuments 05:00 Sponsored message 06:39 Origin of the Megalithic people and culture 11:27 Barrow of St Michel 12:19 Barrow of Tumiac 13:46 WHG and LBK influences 17:32 Early Dolmens 18:54 Covered Alley of L’Île-Grande 19:27 Standing stones / Giant of Manio, Menhir of St Uzec 20:35 Grand menhir Brisé of Locmariaquer 23:31 Table des Marchands 25:11 Carnac stone rows 29:00 Kercado passage tomb 31:10 Jadeite axe heads 35:11 Mané-er-Hroëck barrow 35:47 Jadeite axe heads 2 38:32 The long barrow and the longhouse 42:13 Gavrinis barrow tomb 45:11 Petit Mont tomb 48:47 Conclusion