Thursday, July 27, 2017

Normandy Megalith Pierre Butée

To become deaf to the land, to its secret languages, is to draw a knife down upon one own's soul. - CL Nolan
 
(Pierre Butée 2)
Google Maps (opens in a new window) Pierre butée 2
There are at least two Menhirs situated in this part of the marsh but the only named stone on the map is the Pierre Butée. As I have found another unmarked Menhir I have referenced them Pierre Butée1 and Pierre Butée 2 on this page.
 Both Megaliths are placed on the edge of the marshland of the Carentan Maurais.

The Marsh menhirs have been worked into similar rectangular shapes and stand out well on the flat landscape. The rock used for these menhirs looks different to the stones on the north east coast of Normandy where they are more often a combination of smooth stone and pudding stone - a geological conglomerate. (Allée couverte de Bretteville )
 (Pierre Butée 1)
Google Maps (opens in a new window)  Pierre Butée 1
The other Menhir, Pierre Butée (1) is situated nearer to the village of Crosville - Sur - Douve   

 (Possible barrow near Pierre Butée 1 can be seen on the right)
On a western alignment to Pierre Butée 1 is a possible barrow or burial site. If this is correct then it might suggest a community involved with the placing of these stones would have lived in the area.
 
The outskirts of the marsh still has many farms and it is probably no coincidence the stones are placed on the edges. It is possible that they mark a path through the marshes but this is difficult to  prove with only 2 identified menhirs that have a NE / SW alignment that mark the edge of the flat lands.

Originally formed by a glacial valley that is connected to the sea on the east coast of the Manche, the Carentan marsh is fed by the Douve river. It is the combination of the sea and river that causes the rich peat bog which is now known for grazing sheep and cattle.

(Pierre Butée 2)
The literal translation of Pierre Butée: "butaye(r)" is a large protruding stone. A sense of the obstinate suggested by this translation renders well to me because the standing stones were erected on a marsh.

Going to normandy this year?
If you're interested in stone circles, standing stones and megaliths in general check out this index. Directions and locations available on each page.
click here

Normandy Megalith The High Man of Hacouville
http://www.paintwalk.com/2016/03/normandy-megalith-high-man-of-hacouville.html

Normandy Megalith the long man St Pierre Eglise
http://www.paintwalk.com/2016/02/normandy-megalith-long-man-st-pierre.html 

Normandy Megalith - Allée couverte de Bretteville
http://www.paintwalk.com/2015/11/normandy-megalith-allee-couverte-de.html

The Devil Stone Bere Regis Dorset Megalith
http://www.paintwalk.com/2017/07/the-devil-stone-bere-regis-dorset.html

Menhir de Champ Dolent Round Scape
http://www.paintwalk.com/2014/08/menhir-de-champ-dolent-brittany.html

The Fairy Tree and the Devil of Rabey Wood
http://www.paintwalk.com/2017/06/the-fairy-tree-and-devil-of-rabey-wood.html
 
A Walking Guide to the Saint Just Alignments
http://www.paintwalk.com/2015/08/a-walking-guide-to-saint-just-alignments.html 

Markers - The Saint Just Alignments
http://www.paintwalk.com/2015/08/markers-saint-just-alignments.html

Knowlton Church Landscape Painting Dorset
http://www.paintwalk.com/2014/04/knowlton-church-landscape-painting.html

Hill forts around the Blackmore Vale Dorset
http://www.paintwalk.com/2014/05/hill-forts-around-blackmore-vale.html

Roundscape of des Pierres Droites Standing Stone Alignments Brittany
http://www.paintwalk.com/2014/07/roundscape-of-des-pierres-droites.html

Awakening the Ancestors digital sketches and video of Standing stone alignments in Brittany
http://www.paintwalk.com/2014/07/awakening-ancestors.html 

The eye of the lake l'étang de Quéhon
http://www.paintwalk.com/2014/07/the-eye-of-lake-letang-de-quehon_16.html

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