Cham of the Bungs

Drawing its name from the occitano-patois Cham (plate or causse) and proximity of the commune of the Bungs in Lozere, the Cham of the Bungs is a calcareous plate of ten square kilometers extending to the foot from the Mont Lozere.

Introduction

With its 154 Menhir S of granite, the site constitutes the second concentration of monuments megalithic in Europe after alignments of Carnac in Brittany. It is estimated that the installation of these stones must be between the end of the Neolithic and the Bronze Age.

This site also conceals a geological curiosity: two nipples limestones having resisted erosion and dominating the valley of the Tarn. These puechs (of Latin podium , high ground), as they are called, would be resulting according to the legend from the mud fallen from the shoes from Gargantua.

The archeological site of Cham of the Bungs

This name does not wake up large-thing for the majority of the Lozériens and the Languedociens. For others come from all the France and even from abroad, for those which are interested in the Mégalithe S and the Archéologie, for in love ones with the southernmost inheritance, this site is single in all the south of France. Indeed, on a surface of hardly 10 km ² was planted there is more than 4000 years more than 150 Menhir S. Certains researchers advance the number of 154 and others beyond this figure. What is sure, it is that while going in Cham of the Bungs, one is always sure to see around fifty without effort at least of it. The first great inventory of these monoliths goes back to the years 1940 with Doctor Morel who will draw up two inventories of them. Since, few or not publications on this site, if not confidential. Thanks to the territorial collectivities and the Service of Antiquities directed in Lozere by Gilbert Fages, this inheritance is leaving the shade gradually. Indeed, all at the beginning of the 20th century, these was at most between 3 and 7 menhirs which were still upright. In the years 1980-1990, about thirty stones had been raised. Today, these are at least 80 menhirs which found the vertical. Among the latter, one will note in the south of the hamlets of Vaissière and Fare, two very large menhirs respectively measuring 4,80 m and 4,50 m except ground. Still lying a few years ago but given today to the vertical, they bordered 6 m length.

Characteristics of the menhirs of Cham of the Bungs

Initially, it is noticed that all the menhirs of this unit are out of granite extracted the southern slopes of the solid mass of the Mont Lozere. However, these stones were planted in entirely calcareous ground. They were thus transported to be set up at this place at a distance minimum of 800 Mr. For certain stones, the distance between the place of extraction and the place of erection must amount in kilometers. In the second place, the Menhir S do not seem not laid out in space in a rational way. One finds a great number of menhirs alone, menhirs per pairs and more rarely in line of three. Half-circles and vague circles (Cromlech S) take shape with the groups n° 2 of Fage and the Hut of the Air. There are thus no here long alignments of the type Carnac in Brittany or provisions in perfect circles as on Causse of Blandas (Département of Gard) The largest menhirs are often on hillocks but there still it is not a general information.

In the third place and most prone to assumptions, it is of course to know the motivation of the prehistoric manufacturers to raise as many stones in such a restricted place. One thus spoke about ancient beaconings of ways per time of strong snows, of indicating terminals of entries of mines, stakes of a “road of uranium”… Nothing makes it possible today to support or refute completely such or such assumptions. Nevertheless, one can advance the idea that these Monolithe S drawn up per tens could have shown the strong religious feeling and the power of a tribe on others. Many are the legends arrived to us and who point out the capacity of fertility and force attached to the planted stones. In planting as much on a few square kilometers was to cover a very important symbolic system religious if not political and thus to confer on Cham Bungs there is more than 4000 years the concept of “crowned place”. What is sure today, it is that mysterious Cham of the Bungs jealously keeps the mystery of the people which drew up these monoliths directed towards the sky and their original function. Cham of the Bungs, in addition to being the second more important concentration French of menhirs after Carnac, is also a very pleasant place of excursion very easy to explore and where Prehistory lozérienne and Cevennes is revealed with each turning of ways.

Access to the site of the menhirs

One joined Cham of the Bungs is by the village of the Bridge-with-Montvert while going to Runes famous for his cascade (D35 road). One can also take the N106 road which crosses Florac and moves towards north towards Mende then while forking on the Causse of Sauveterre in the course of road by the collar of Montmirat. De Mende, the access towards Cham of the Bungs is also very easy. A carpark is used as starting point with two hiking roads proposed by the Tourist office.

Distribution of the groups of menhir

Cham of the Bungs is composed of several groups of menhirs of size and variable interest:

the group n° 1 of Fage , extremely of a score of laid down menhirs, merges in an afforestation and the monoliths are of intermediate size (between 1,50 and 2,50 m). Because of its screening by the vegetation and of the relative smallness of the menhirs, the interest of this group is relatively low.

the group n° 2 of Fage certainly more is known and more visited by the hikers. It counts more than one score of rectified menhirs, a dolmen and tumulus. The arranged carpark is established very close to the starting point of this group and its menhir emblematic “Pierre of the Three Parishes”. One easily recognizes this beautiful stone with the marks cut in the rock left by tests of cutting up carried out by carriers. Formerly slept, it would have to border 5,45 m length. It was partly cut down by the carriers and today, once rectified, it culminates with less than 3 m height. All around this stone and while approaching the hamlet of Combettes (downwards in the valley), one meets while following the GR. the dolmen of Fage, some menhirs isolated and on a projecting ledge a little low, the beautiful unit formed by the three aligned menhirs of Chabusses. Once crossed the small pine forest located just at side and while following the GR., they are menhirs alone or by groups of two which await the hikers and that until Combettes. While going towards the east starting from “Pierre of the Three Parishes”, several pairs of menhirs were replanted and that until the top of a nipple.

the group of the Hut of the Air account a score of menhirs whose intermediate size ranges between 1,70 and 2 Mr. They for their great majority are established with the tops of small croups located at the south of the house known as of the Hut of the Air. These stones seem to draw for certain half-circles of small scale or imperfect alignments.

the group of Vaissière (also called group of menhirs of Fare) presents the largest menhirs of Cham of the Bungs. Located at the south of the quasi-abandoned hamlets of Vaissière and Fare, it is a unit numerically very important (forty menhirs) but also very spread out over the ground. It is this group which profited the most from the last restorations, which has made it possible to re-examine set up in majesty of very large monoliths bordering the 5 meters height. While trotting oneself in this group, one still notices nearly ten stones lying, stones which should be replanted in the months or the years to come.

Very near to the group of Vaissière but separated by a deep ravine, the group of Colobrières is easy to reach in half an hour of walk. The interest comes especially from the beautiful menhir of Colobrières high of almost 4 meters and planted in top of a croup. The other menhirs neighborhood are always lying and of lower size.

the career of menhirs of Fontpadelle is located at the top of the small hamlet of the same name. She was recognized here more than 60 years by Doctor Charles Morel. Once on the site, one notices at least 5 beautiful granite flagstones in position tilted and ready to be gone down towards Cham from the Bungs. The uneven one is rather important just like the distance between this center of extraction (between 800 m and 1.200 m). One will note on this site a large block of granite of which it misses a great piece with the characteristic silhouette. While taking measurements and the form of the disappeared piece, one realizes then that this stone was drawn up at the entry of the hamlet of Vaissière (this planted stone was used as stele in the honor of two teachers died a long ago in a snowstorm while wanting to go to their work station).

Other menhirs exist in dispersed order but do not set up groups with whole share because the number of stones which compose these units are too weak. One can thus quote the menhirs of the village of the Bungs, of the Edge of Issenges, the collar of Montmirat, Cocurés, Malaval, Puechs, Lozerette, Ferrier Field, Green Mount…

External bond

Personal site on the menhirs of Cham of the Bungs

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