Step-by-Step Guide to Exploring the Beautiful 9 Jerseys Ancient Dolmens
The stunning Channel Island of Jersey is a destination that is steeped in history. From Norman traditions still ingrained in Jersey culture to war bunkers peppering the island, there is a slice of history everywhere you turn. The island boasts an incredible number of historic sites across the island, including grand fortresses, underground tunnels and Nazi fortifications. However, one part of the island’s history which predates everything else is the abundance of ancient dolmens scattered around Jersey.
What are Jersey’s Ancient Dolmens?
A word derived from French, which is one of Jersey’s native languages, a dolmen is a single-chamber megalithic tomb that typically dates back to the Neolithic period between 4800-2250 BCE. These structures create a chamber that is thought to be used for a variety of reasons, including burial tombs, ritual sites and meeting places.
Jersey is home to some of the best-preserved dolmens in the world, and with multiple to encounter on the island, you can get a great insight into the island’s past. It was once thought that Jersey’s ancient dolmens were considered to be the primary resting tombs for chieftains, and in a similar fashion to the Egyptian pyramids, tribes would labour away to build these dolmens. However, recent archaeology has determined they are more likely passage graves due to the lack of bone discovery or the disorganisation of the found remains.
The island’s dolmens are also shrouded in mystery and mythical legend. Local folklore connects fairies and goblins to the dolmens of Jersey. Mythology believes that dolmens are gateways to the mystical realm, with ideas that they were built by mischievous fairies or moved by magic.
Where are Jersey’s Ancient Dolmens?
Jersey is home to an abundance of ancient dolmens; however, there are several major sites that are a must-visit on the island.
La Hougue Bie
When it comes to Jersey’s ancient dolmens, La Hougue Bie is the star attraction. A site that is famous across the globe, La Hougue Bie is one of the ten oldest buildings in the world. Its ancient chamber was once a site for rituals and ceremonies, specifically built to align with the rising sun during the spring and summer equinox. On top of this prehistoric passage grave, a 16th Century Christian chapel is built on the mound and offers stunning views. Visitors can explore La Hougue Bie for a small charge and not only discover artefacts from the Neolithic period but Jersey history right up until the German occupation during World War II.
La Pouquelaye de Faldouet
Nestled in the parish of St Martin, La Pouquelaye de Faldouet is a 5 metre long passage that leads onto a unique double chamber, a circular chamber and a larger capstone end chamber. Pottery, stone axes and flints from the Neolithic period have all been discovered at this site, as well as the bones of three individuals. Its name can be interpreted to mean ‘fairy stone’, with La Pouquelaye de Faldouet considered to be one of the most mystical areas of the island.
Les Monts des Grantez
Located in St Ouen, Les Monts des Grantez has been the most interesting excavation of the dolmens. Excavations in 1912 discovered eight human skeletons, all with evidence of different treatment.
La Sergente
One of the most unusual passage graves on the island, St Brelade’s La Sergente, is a circular chamber that 1923 excavations revealed to be the remains of a fallen vault with a beehive design. This style is unique to the Channel Islands, and evidence suggests La Sergente was the earliest dolmen built on the island, but it collapsed soon after its construction due to a lack of suitable materials.
La Table des Marthes
At the western end of The Railway Walk, a large granite slab indicates the dolmen of La Table des Marthes. Supported at each end by stones and pillar structures, it is not known what this unique structure was used for. With a name translating to ‘The Witnesses Table’, it is thought that this was a historic Jersey site for signing contracts.
La Hougue des Geonnais
While the site was ruined by quarrying, La Hougue des Geonnais still remains one of the most impressive dolmens on the island, as one of just three passage graves in Jersey with large open chambers.
La Hougue Boete
Discovered in 1911, La Hougue Boete is a four-walled Neolithic chamber that was found during an excavation. An oval mound found in St John, La Hougue Boete was home to the most unusual burial, with excavation discovering a man lying on top of a horse. The bones dated back to the Celtic period, and it is believed that La Hougue Boete is the most recently used dolmen.
Ville-es-Nouaux
A gallery tomb and chamber surrounded by a stone circle in the parish of St Helier, Ville-es-Nouaux, is thought to have been one of the island’s most important Neolithic ritual sites. During the late 1800s excavations, not much was discovered other than a handful of flint chips, indicating that this was unlikely to be a burial site.
Mont Ube
The Neolithic site of Mont Ube was discovered in 1848 by a farmer who blasted the capstones before quarrymen removed them for building materials. Inside, axes, urns and human bones were discovered, along with a polished stone pendant. For many years, the farmer used the remaining stones as a pigsty until the remains of the dolmen were later reclaimed as a historic site.
