Dolmen de Bagneux, Saumur, France

The famous Dolmen in Bagneux is probably one of the most majestic French dolmens and the largest of the 4,500 dolmens spread out on about 60 French departments.The overall length of this dolmen is over 23 meters (75 feet) and its chamber is over 18 meters (60 feet) long. As all dolmens, the 'Great Covered stone" in Bagneux, was a large chamber tomb which must have contained a great number of prehistoric skeletons during the neolithic age, i.e.from 4,000 to 2,000 B.C., that is about 5,000 years ago.

Only suppositions can be made on the way the dolmens were built.The flagstones must have been raised several times with numerous levers while pebbles were slid underneath the stone.Once it was raised to a certain level, and lying on a heap of pebbles, it was easier to pull it further. Then, the same operation started all over again.

References:

Dolmen de Bagneux official website

The dolmens and other megaliths (pyramids, cromlechs, and others) were built for defense. Read more http://forum.ozersk.ru/topic/32337-raskritie-tain-drevnosti/

User Reviews

Jim Schrempp (2 years ago)
The dolmen is inside a private yard, surrounded by a tall wall with spikes atop it. The signs said it would be open for visitors but when we arrived at 11:30, no one would answer the door; it appeared to be closed but no signage to that. If you’re REALLY into megaliths then this is worth a stop.

Bozica Katic (2 years ago)
Amazing place for visit, near Saumur France!

David Mcintosh (3 years ago)
Visited in June, the bar is closed (probably permanently) which is a shame… the bell goes unanswered, so you can not access the site, you can see it over the wall… but the effect takes away some of the shine.

Rob van Hees (4 years ago)
The majestic French dolmens, Dolmen de Bagneux, a megalith located in Saumur, France, are as impressive to us as they must have been in prehistoric times. Hidden in a private garden you never know they existed unless you go to the trouble of finding them.

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Photo from Flickr, copyright Andy Hay

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Argos Theater

The ancient Argos Theater was built in 320 BC. and is located in Argos, Greece against Larissa Hill. Nearby from this site is Agora, Roman Odeon, and the Baths of Argos. The theater is one of the largest architectural developments in Greece and was renovated in ca 120 AD.

The Hellenistic theater at Argos is cut into the hillside of the Larisa, with 90 steps up a steep incline, forming a narrow rectilinear cavea. Among the largest theaters in Greece, it held about 20,000 spectators and is divided by two landings into three horizontal sections. Staircases further divide the cavea into four cunei, corresponding to the tribes of Argos A high wall was erected to prevent unauthorized access into the theatron and may have helped the acoustics, but it is said the sound quality is still very good today.

Around 120 CE, both theaters were renovated in the Roman style.

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