La Varde - passage grave.

Situated on the crest of the hill on the west side of L'Ancresse common, between Grande Havre and L'Ancresse Bay, and north of Mont Cuet Road.

This is the largest and most impressive surviving megalithic structure in the island. A round mound, originally some 18 metres in diameter and formally recorded as having a massive stone kerb, encloses the chamber which is of bottle - shaped plan, built of large upright slabs with big capstones, and has a length of 11m, a greatest width of 3.6m and a height of 2.1m. The largest capstone weighs over ten tons.
This dates back to 3500 - 2000BC. The site was discovered by men of the 103rd Regiment engaged in military woks on the hill, and some disorganised excavation was undertaken.Some finds were made at this time but all are now lost. Larger and better recorded excavations were undertaken by the Lukis family in 1837. Two layers of paving were recorded, indicating successive periods of use, and between and above these were quantities of burnt and unburnt human bone, and many associated finds.

The complete pots and fragments of others are estimated to comprise some 150 vessels, dating from the Middle Neolithic to Early Bronze times, and suggesting use as a burial vault over at least 1,500 years.
Flint and stone tools, stone ornaments and bone points were also discovered.

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La Varde Dolmen, www.bbc.co.uk/guernsey [accessed 13.9.04]