Pre-history

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Pre-history

Mont Ube Dolmen photographed in 1936 by Emile Guiton

This page provides links to articles on prehistoric sites in Jersey, either within Jerripedia or on external sites.

Mont de la Ville dolmen

Faldouet dolmen

Le Couperon de Rozel

La Pouquelaye cromlech in 1870

Les Quesnel menhir in 1870

Le Couperon excavation

Castel de Lecq

Mont Ube Cromlech

Discovery of Iron Age coin hoard worth millions

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

Menhirs

Megalithic remains

Stones

Occupation sites

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.