Karnak standing stones photographed in 2019 (Photo: Damien MEYER/AFP)
Some of the ancient Neolithic stones, older than Stonehenge, have been demolished to make way for DIY stores.
The decision sparked outrage at the site of Carnac in France’s Brittany region, well known for its vast fields of Neolithic stones known as “menhirs”.
The stone is quite large, about 3 feet (1 meter) tall, and has been carbon dated to between 5,480 and 5,320 BC, making it older than Stonehenge. .
CNN reported that Mayor Olivier Lepic claimed that excavations carried out last June found the site to be of “low archaeological value” and not worthy of protection.
But the stone’s removal three kilometers from a protected tourist attraction drew criticism from local amateur archaeologist Christian Oberts.
His blog post accused local authorities of “desecrating this world-famous archaeological site” and said “several sudden developments near the Karnak Menhir Alignment are distorting this world-famous archaeological site.” , which attracted international attention.
An application to inscribe the site as a UNESCO World Heritage Site was due to be submitted last year (Photo: DEA/C.SAPPA/De Agostini via Getty Images) A 19th century engraving depicting the Karnak stone (Photo: Universal History Archive /Universal Images Group) from Getty Images)
Oberts claimed that the site was part of an application for UNESCO World Heritage status that was due to be submitted to the French Ministry of Culture at the end of September last year.
“Whether small or not, (the ruins) have archaeological value,” he told BFMTV.
Despite protests against the removal of the stones, work went ahead and a new branch of ‘Mr Martin’ was launched. Bricolage’ DIY shop is already open in Karnak.
Meanwhile, Lepic claimed that coverage of the controversy “does not reflect the reality” of the situation on the ground.
“There have never been 39 menhirs in this place,” he told French news channel CNews. The preventive excavations we conducted in 2015 clearly demonstrate this.
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“It’s not actually an image like it’s described in certain media articles. When you read certain articles, you feel like you’ve destroyed the Mona Lisa.
“There were no archaeological sites of sufficient value to warrant refusal of planning permission.”
He said the destroyed stone was in a commercial area, opposite a service station and close to a supermarket and recycling center.
This article was originally published on June 29, 2024.
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