Insular history
Jersey has been an island for approximately 8,000 years or possibly not quite so long, and at its extremes it measures 10 miles east to west and six miles north to south. The earliest evidence of human activity in the island dates to about 250,000 years ago when bands of hunters used the caves at La Cotte de St Brelade as a base for hunting mammoth There was sporadic activity in the area by nomadic bands of hunters until the introduction of settled communities in the Neolithic period, which is marked by the building of the ritual burial sites known as dolmens. The number, size and visible locations of these megalithic monuments (especially La Hougue Bie have suggested that social organisation over a wide area, including surrounding coasts, was required for the construction. Archaeological evidence shows that there were trading links with Brittany and the south coast of England during this time. It would appear that the island was significant enough to inspire large-scale construction projects.
Links
- Jersey's most precious prehistoric find, a gold torque
- La Hougue Bie - Hougue Bie, two articles
- Faldouet Dolmen
- La Cotte de St Brelade
- Le Catillon hoard, a discovery of ancient coins
- Surviving menhirs
Prehistoric Jersey
From the grand tumulus at La Hougue Bie down to the most modest of standing stones marking prehistoric burial sites, Jersey has a fine selection of sites of interests to students of pre-history. These are direct links to pages on many of the most important on Prehistoric Jersey, the definitive website dedicated to the subject.
Dolmens
- La Hougue Bie
- La Hougue Boëte
- La Hougue de Vinde
- La Hougue des Geonnais
- La Hougue des Grosnez
- La Hougue des Platons
- La Pouquelaye de Faldouet
- La Sergenté
- Le Dolmen du Couperon
- Le Dolmen du Mont Ubé
- Le Mont de la Ville
- Les Monts Grantez
- Beauport Dolmen
- Ville-ès-Nouaux
Menhirs
- Cherry Farm Menhir
- La Dame Blanche
- Greve D'Azette Menhir
- La Prevoté Menhir
- Les Côtils Farm Menhir
- Pontorson Lane Menhir
- The Broken Menhir
- The Great Menhir
- The Little Menhir
- The White Menhir
Megalithic remains
- La Blanche Pierre
- La Moye II
- La Pierre de la Fêtelle
- La Pouclée
- La Table des Marthes
- La Tête de la Fief de la Houguette
- La Tête des Quennevais
- L'Avenue et Dolmen du Prés du Lumières
- Mont Felard Stones
- The Ossuary
Stones
- Hautlieu Stone
- La Chêve Rue Stone
- La Coupe Megaliths
- La Dame Blanche
- La Moye Golf Course Standing Stone
- La Pierre aux Crabes
- La Pierre des Baissières
- La Rocco Stones
- La Rocque ès Jovaies
- La Rocque Stone
- La Route de la Hougue Bie Stones
- La Rue Laurens Stones
- La Rue Voisin Stone
- Les Landes Semi Circle of Stones
- Les Mielles Golf Course Stones
- Les Trois Rocques
- Parklands Stone
- Patier Lane Stone
- Portlet Common Stone
- South Hill Stone
- St Ouen's Manor Standing Stone
- St Saviour's Church Stones
- Surville Stones
- The Centre Stone
Occupation sites
- Belcroute Bay
- Frémont Point
- Icho Tower
- La Cotte à la Chèvre
- La Cotte de St Brelade
- Maître Île
- Maîtresse Île
- La Motte
- La Moye I
- Le Câtel de Lecq
- Le Câtel de Rozel
- Pinacle
- Câtieaux
- Ile Agois
- Mont Orgueil
- Plémont Point
- POW Camp & Les Blanches Banques
In addition to these sites there are a large quantity yet to be excavated, as well as many which have been recorded in the past but have since been built over and are now hidden from view.
Gallery
Les Trois Roches, St Ouen's Bay, photographed by Emile Guiton
Le Couperon de Rozel, photographed by Emile Guiton
Grantez Dolmen, photographed by Emile Guiton
Grantez Dolmen passage, photographed by Emile Guiton
Blanches Banques menhir, photographed by Emile Guiton
Some drone photographs by Chris Brookes