The archaeologists take action to 'protect' the menhirs
WHEN ARCHAEOLOGY WANTS TO 'SAVE'
THE SOUL OF THE MENHIRS
The transformation of the site seems only to foreste the commercial trivialization
of a site considered sacred by the inhabitants of Carnac.
The tourist train for the theme park, under construction, and the panels with the various prices for the tours.
The imposing 'archaeological' bookshop alongside the site is one of the expensive souvenirs of the merchandising that has nothing to do with archaeology.
One can't help wondering what the jams and t-shirts in the gift-shop have got to do with archaeology's attempts to "save" the menhirs…
The sale of necklaces, jewellery, key-rings and flags in the "archaeological" gift-shop which stands next to the site. What has all this got to do with archaeology?
The marquee beside the bookshop, to house the 'volunteers' of the archaeological staff in charge of convincing the tourists of the legitimacy of the confiscation of the site. In the picture on the right, a volunteer insistently explaining to an unapprised tourist that the site must be saved from "destruction". A concern that did not prevent many menhirs from being blithely demolished in order to re-route a state road.
The gate to the site that prevents anyone without a ticket from entering. In the picture on the right, a group of tourists is guided through the menhirs by the 'volunteer' on duty, who high-handedly explains that the megalithic structure is nothing more than a burial ground, trivializing the true meaning attributed to it by the inhabitants of Carnac and the surrounding area. This is the explanation given for the techniques used for erecting the stones by the ancient Celts.
A panoramic view of the menhirs, imprisoned by the metal fencing that prevents the inhabitants of Carnac from freely accessing the area.