Part 15

DAS WEERD.--The existence of the remains of a lake-dwelling at the east end of the Insel Weerd has been known for a long time. The site is close to where a Roman bridge extended from Eschenz to Arach; but the piles are somewhat scattered, and embrace both sides of the river. In 1882 Mr. Schenk succeeded in finding its relic-bed, which he describes as composed of two distinct layers--the upper one being of a dark colour probably the result of the conflagration which destroyed the settlement; and a lower of a yellowish colour, containing much organic _débris_. About 4 cubic mètres of this _Kulturgeschicht_ was examined, and among the relics collected were three human skulls, one of which is perfect, but the others were in bits; a knife, a hair-pin, and some rings of bronze; a copper celt (B. 420b, p. 174); polished stone celts, one of which was made of jadeite. In addition to these, there were various objects of Roman times collected on or in the vicinity of this station, including a tile with an inscription, a bronze statue, Roman coins, etc. In the Rosgarten Museum there is a bronze sword, said to be from this station; also a quern stone 21 inches in diameter, with a central hole 3 inches in diameter. But it is not probable that either of these objects really belonged to the lake-dwellers. The bronze knife, three pins, and some perforated stone implements (=Fig. 28=, Nos. 4 to 7, and 10), are also in this museum, and labelled "Insel Weerd." The human skull has been reported on by Professor Kollmann, who shows it to be dolichocephalic. (_Antiqua_, 1883, p. 69; and 1884, p. 174; _Das Ausland_, 1885, p. 219; B. 462.)

MAMMERN.--In the bay above Mammern, at a place called Neuenburgerhorn, there is an extensive area containing very decayed piles. It was investigated by Messikommer in 1861 on behalf of the Historical Society of Thurgau. (B. 41.) The piles commenced about 160 feet from the shore, and extended some 400 feet along, covering an area of 40,000 square feet. The antiquities were all found on the surface, and consisted of hundreds of stone celts, flint implements, pottery, and bones. No small bone tools, nor any trace of the lighter industrial remains or food material, were met with, nor was there a relic-bed underneath. Hence Messikommer concluded that the finer contents of the relic-bed had been washed away by the current of water, which, it seems, is pretty strong at this place. (B. 40, p. 26.)

FELDBACH and STECKBORN.--A station called "Pfahlbau Turgi," near Feldbach, has been long known, and several prehistoric objects have been found on it from time to time. The water being low in 1882, the Historical Society of Thurgau undertook some systematic explorations. From various indications it was inferred that this station was not among those destroyed by fire. The antiquities collected belonged to the pure Stone Age, among which are:--Stone celts, bone and horn objects, specimens of barley and wheat, cloth made of bast, and fragments of basket-work. From the observations of Mr. Schenk, it would appear that this pile-dwelling had been protected from the waves by a kind of wooden bulwark. (B. 383a.)

Near Steckborn there was another small station, known as "Der Pfahlbau Schanz," on which some interesting objects--as dishes, harpoons, etc.--were found. In 1885 it was again searched by Messikommer (B. 434b, p. 33), and among the objects then collected were stone celts (=Fig. 28=, No. 13), harpoons of horn (No. 19), a flax-heckler, and an implement called a whistle (No. 18) made of the short foot-bone of a cow. According to Messikommer, this settlement had been twice destroyed by fire and the usual carbonised materials--as cloth, grain, charcoal, etc.--were abundantly found. (B. 462.)

BERLINGEN.--In the bay above this town are piles, but not readily discernible, and stone celts have been found all along the shore.

ERMATINGEN.--This settlement occupied the bay below the village, and its site is particularly rich in flint implements and the refuse of their manufacture. Stone celts are also abundant, and among them are a few of nephrite. Some fragments of pottery showing a net-like ornamentation on their inside are noted from this locality. The station appears to have been voluntarily abandoned, as there are no carbonised materials among its _débris_. (B. 40 and 462.)

LANGENRAIN.--Below Gottlieben, at the north end of a small island formed by a divergent branch of the Rhine, Dr. Nägeli, of Ermatingen, discovered in 1882 the remains of a pile-dwelling of the Bronze Age. Some of the piles were seen in the water projecting from the mud, but they are mostly concealed by the deposits imported by a stream (Wollmatinger-Bach) which here falls into the Rhine. They are partly round and partly split stems, sharpened by metal tools, and occupy an area about 100 yards in length and 15 in breadth. The relic-bed was covered with a layer of mud from 1 to 2½ feet in thickness. Among the objects recorded from this station are a winged celt, two lance-heads, and two hair-pins of bronze, fragments of pottery (some of which are ornamented with the meander pattern), and two bits of clay crescents. Also various bones of animals and portions of a human skull, the latter being found in the presence of Mr. Leiner at a depth of 2½ feet from the surface. (B. 462.)

OBERZELL.--The first station on the island of Reichenau, and only lately discovered, lies to the north of Oberzell. (B. 462.)

HEGNE, ALLENSBACH, and MARKELFINGEN.--Of the settlements along this part of the shore Mr. Dehoff has given a long account in Keller's fifth report of the Pfahlbauten. (B. 61.) Since then a new station has been discovered at Hegne, but otherwise no important discoveries have been recorded from these stations. They all belong to the Stone Age. At Markelfingen the piles were observed round a small steinberg some 30 paces from the shore, which, when the water was low, became a low island. No piles were seen on this island, but it yielded a large number of coarsely-made stone celts. From this place I noticed in the Museum at Friedrichshafen a beautiful polished chisel of stone in a staghorn handle (=Fig. 28=, No. 1) and a metal (copper or bronze) bracelet (No. 16).

Near Allensbach piles extended as a broad band for about 1,000 paces parallel to the shore. In one place rows of piles took the direction of the shore in such a manner as to suggest a bridge or stage entrance. The piles were generally round stems, but some of the oak ones were split, and measured in some instances 14 to 16 inches in diameter. They projected only a few inches above the mud. In some places horizontal beams of split oak were found lying buried in the mud, but in deep water, and measuring 15 feet in length and 4 to 6 inches in diameter.

The antiquities collected were chiefly the heavier implements, as stone celts, which varied very much both in size and form--being from less than an inch to 21 inches in length. Only a few fragments showed perforated axes. Corn-crushers were in great abundance, as well as flint saws and other objects of this material. Another station just opposite Allensbach has largely supplied collectors with stone celts, and a considerable number of perforated hammer-axes. At Hegne the stone celts show better workmanship, and among the relics are some beautifully-made saws, daggers, and lance-heads of yellow and dark flint. Two earthen vessels slightly bulging in the middle, and having perforations for cords instead of handles, are noted by Dehoff as containing a black sooty substance, and a third was filled with hazel-nuts.

The remaining stations in the Untersee are at IZNANG, GUNDOLZEN, (B. 462, p. 12), HORNSTAAD, GAIENHOFEN, and HEMMENHOFEN, but they present the same features as those already noticed of the Stone Age. (B. 22.)

CONSTANCE.--In the Bay of Constance there were several of these lake-dwellings, the remains of which have only more recently come to light. In Keller's eighth report of the Swiss lake-dwellings (B. 336), Mr. Leiner, keeper of the Rosgarten Museum, gives a short account of the antiquities found in the harbour (Rauenegg) when it was being enlarged. Among several rows of ancient piles of oak and cross-beams running in a southerly direction towards the Kreuzlingen shore there were found buried in the mud, chiefly lying over the shell marl (_überkalkter Conchylien_), fragments of ornamented pottery (=Fig. 29=, Nos. 4 to 10), loom-weights, spindle-whorls, portions of clay plaster for huts, stone celts, and perforated axe-hammers, together with a variety of flint implements (Nos. 11 and 12). Mr. Leiner remarks that while the pottery found in many of the neighbouring stations was rude and entirely hand-made, that from the Rauenegg station would almost indicate a knowledge of the potter's wheel. This pottery was burnt into a grey, black, or yellowish colour, and belonged to the Bronze Age; in proof of which he instances among the antiquities a few bronze objects (Nos. 1 to 3), a small bit of amber, and some fragments of a fine green and blue glass. One of the bronze objects (No. 1) is quite unique, but of its purpose nothing seems to be known.

In 1882 the site of a station was discovered just opposite the public gardens, which goes under the name FRAUENPFAHL. Its area was determined to be about 130 yards long and 100 yards wide. The antiquities from it are hatchets of serpentine and chloromelanite, fragments of vases, a large bead of blue glass, a bronze hatchet, and a canoe.

During the same season (the water being then very low) another large station was discovered, running along the north shore of the bay near HINTERHAUSEN. It extended in length for about 400 yards, with an average breadth of 50; and among its piles were found some hundreds of stone hatchets, worked objects of bone and horn, pottery, and a large assortment of the bones of various animals. (B. 381, 382, and 462.)

In passing to the _Ueberlingersee_ the first station we come to is Staad, which lies immediately below Allmannsdorf; and a little farther on there is another, opposite the village of EGG, both of which are recent additions to the long list of lake-settlements known in this branch of the Lake of Constance. Beyond the bridge which joins INSEL MAINAU to the mainland lies the _débris_ of a very large settlement which formed at least two villages. That next to LÜTZELSTETTEN is characterised by its high-class pottery of the Stone Age. Along the shore stone celts are met with all the way to the village of DINGELSDORF, immediately opposite to which is a settlement of the Stone Age.

The next station was near WALLHAUSEN, which, owing to the number of flint implements collected on it, goes among collectors under the name of "Flint Island." Among the celts found here are a few of nephrite and one of polished flint. (B. 462, p. 4.) Large collections have been made from this station, one of which, according to Mr. Böll, was lately sold for £60. (B. 378.)

From Wallhausen northwards neither piles nor any industrial remains are met with till we come to Bodmann. This is, no doubt, owing to the abrupt nature of the coast which renders the lake-margin unsuitable for such structures.

BODMANN.--At this town the hills again recede, and leave an open valley stretching away westwards, through which the stream _Stockach_ flows and empties itself into the head of the lake. Here there were two settlements which have yielded an enormous amount of industrial remains. The most recent haul was in 1888, the largest portion of which went to the Rosgarten Museum. When I last visited Constance (August, 1888), the stuff was still at Mr. Leiner's private residence, and it was perfectly appalling to see the number of boxes, barrels, etc., in which the materials were stowed away. Besides the Rosgarten Museum, there are good collections from these stations at Friedrichshafen, the Steinhaus Museum at Ueberlingen, and at Bodmann itself (formerly in the Schloss, but now at the private residence of Mr. Ley).

The results of the earlier explorations have been described by MM. Ley and Dehoff (B. 61 and 126), and some notes of the more recent finds are given by Leiner and Böll. (B. 378, 381, and 382.)

The first station was close to the present landing-stage, and the piles have been observed to hug the shore in a narrow band for several hundred yards. In one spot measuring some 30 yards by 10, flint implements and refuse, including all manner of chips, were found in such astonishing quantity as to give rise to the opinion that it was the site of a flint factory. Mr. Dehoff states that so numerous were the flints here that, before the introduction of lucifer matches, and as far as the memory of man goes back, it supplied the whole neighbourhood with the flints required, and was actually worked as a business for this purpose. Mr. Ley describes the relic-bed as consisting of two strata, separated by a thin layer of mud, and buried beneath a bed of gravel 1¼ to 2 feet thick. The lower stratum was from half a foot to a foot thick, and lay immediately over the original lake-sediment. In some parts this layer appeared to be covered by a thin deposit of carbonised materials.

The second relic-bed was but half the thickness of the former, and, according to Mr. Ley, it was only in it that perforated axe-heads were found; and in its other remains, such as pottery, he sees evidence of progress and improved handicraft.

Among the more noteworthy objects from Bodmann (=Fig. 30=) are fish-spears of horn, with two and four prongs (Nos. 3 and 5); fish-hooks and other implements of bone (Nos. 1, 2, 4, 6, 7, 8, 10, 14 and 19); a bow of yew wood; a celt and a sickle of flint; a vessel containing no less than 600 perforated beads of Jura limestone; goblet-like dishes of blackish earthenware with conical bases (No. 21); and curiously-ornamented vases (No. 20); a saw in its casing, supposed to be made of reindeer horn (No. 17); clay spindle-whorls (No. 18). Nos. 7, 8, 14, 15, 17, and 18, are from the recent find.

About 500 or 600 yards farther north, and close to the farthest off point of the Ueberlingersee, Mr. Ley discovered the remains of a second settlement, which he thinks was constructed in the Bronze Age. Not only were bronze and iron objects found on it, but the piles are much less decayed than those of the previously described station; moreover, there were marks on some he had drawn up from a depth of six feet which could only have been produced by sharp cutting implements. It goes under the name of SCHACHEN; but it is difficult to say from which station the numerous objects exposed in the museums have come, as they are indiscriminately marked "Bodmann." According to Mr. Ley, this settlement was of large extent, but the greater part of it is deeply buried in mud, and not easily explored. The bronze objects described by Mr. Ley are three celts, two of the flat type (Nos. 12 and 13) and one winged (No. 11), and a pin. Those of iron are a knife, two arrow-heads, and portion of a fish-hook. A fibula in Rosgarten Museum marked "Bodmann" is of the Roman period (No. 9), but this is not surprising, as there are many Roman remains in the neighbourhood. Split beams of oak, and others with square mortised holes (like those from Zürich, =Fig. 2=, Nos. 13 and 14) were fished up here, thus bearing out Keller's idea that such beams were only used where the mud is soft. Some elegant vases, one ornamented like those from Schussenried (No. 20), and horn objects, are reported from it. (B. 462.) In the Museum at Ueberlingen there are a few bronze and iron objects from Pfahlbau Bodmann, as a bracelet of bronze wire, pins, needles, a ring, a lance-head, and two small figurines (=Fig. 195=, Nos. 15 and 16).

LUDWIGSHAFEN.--Turning the head of the Ueberlingersee we come to the village of Ludwigshafen, where recently piles have been detected in two places, one of which has turned out to be exceedingly rich in staghorn implements--so much so as to suggest the idea that it was a special factory for this material. This station was about 30 yards from the shore, and in the vicinity of its remains it was long known that Roman tiles lay scattered about. These tiles are of two kinds, hollow and flat, the latter measuring 12 by 7 inches.

SIPPLINGEN.--There are two stations at Sipplingen--one, at the east end of the village, covering nearly 30 acres. The second is only about 4 acres in extent, but it has not been carefully explored. Its chief interest lies in the statement made by Mr. Böll that a large quantity of wood was observed lying in the mud, and among the beams an iron sword, believed to be of Roman origin, was found. Close to this station was found the wreck of a badly-constructed boat, which had no nails, but was kept together by copper wire. (B. 378, p. 97.) The former station is the more interesting, as it has furnished objects characteristic of the three Ages of Stone, Bronze, and Iron, as well as of Roman, Allemanish, and Frankish times. According to Dr. Lachmann (B. 126), the great majority of the relics belong to the Stone Age, with very few of the Bronze Age. Among the objects of more recent times were the following of iron:--A lance-point, three arrow-heads, two sickles, a one-edged sword, and a Roman key. What is still more puzzling is the finding of glass in considerable quantities here. It is of two kinds, and one bit was ornamented with gold enamel. Among the more recent finds are pottery representing large vessels, with a rim and perforated knobs for suspension, and a large flint celt weighing three pounds. (B. 378.)

Some goblets with conical bases, supposed to be crucibles, have been found here, as well as at Bodmann (=Fig. 30=, No. 21), but they appear to me to indicate the commencement of the Bronze Age when such forms came into general use.

It may be further noted that among these relics are about 100 examples of egg-shaped stones which were found in one place, a few hatchets and chisels of nephrite, and a small copper celt encased, when found, in a clay coating, probably the mould in which it was cast.

Another small station, the _débris_ of which is deeply buried, was near St. Catherina, not far from Brünnensbach, which has also yielded objects of more recent times. (B. 462.)

NUSSDORF.--The settlement at Nussdorf covered about three acres in the form of a parallelogram. The piles are mostly round, generally about two feet apart, but sometimes in groups. This station was the first discovered by Mr. Ullersberger, in 1862, and is important for the number of antiquities it has yielded of the pure Stone Age. Dr. Lachmann describes the early investigations and discoveries with great minuteness. (B. 126.) Among the flint objects were about 100 specimens of arrow-points and lance-heads (=Fig. 31=, Nos. 1 to 5), in all gradations of sizes, and 80 saws, piercers, and knives. The saws were in general 3½ inches in length and 2 wide, and eight still retain their handles. Stone celts, chisels, and hammer-axes (No. 20) numbered about 1,000, and of these about 50 celts were made of nephrite. Horn fixings were used for some of the celts; but there were wooden handles with a cleft, which showed that they were hafted in a variety of ways. The perforated axes were comparatively rare, only about 50 being in the collection. The perforations are both circular and oval.

Clay spindle-whorls (Nos. 14 and 15) and loom-weights were well represented, but pottery was both scarce and of indifferent quality. Of bone and horn there were several hundred objects, including chisels (No. 8), awls, daggers (Nos. 11 to 13), various kinds of pins (No. 10), three combs (Nos. 6 and 7), 16 perforated hammers of staghorn (No. 23), perforated teeth, a fish-hook of boar's tusk (No. 22), etc.

MAURACH.--About half-way between Nussdorf and Unter-Uhldingen lies the site of the famous station at Maurach. It was discovered during the winter of 1862-3, and was among those investigated by Mr. Ullersberger. It appears that in 1839 a dam or dyke was built here, which covered a portion of the area occupied by the lake-settlement, so that it could only be partially explored. The piles came close up to the shore, but stretched out into the lake for about 1,000 feet, covering some 8 acres. According to Dr. Lachmann, the antiquities, about 600 of which were collected, were precisely similar to those from Nussdorf. Stone axes were met with in all stages of manufacture, but hardly any pottery. A flattened bead of amber and four copper celts (=Fig. 31=, Nos. 16 to 19) are the only further noteworthy objects included among those from the earlier investigations. (B. 126.)

It was not till 1880, when the dyke above referred to was being repaired, that the special feature which now characterises this settlement became known. Among the stone hatchets then found were nearly 500 of nephrite, of which two-thirds were tolerably well made. But more interesting is the fact that nephrite was found in the crude state, in the form of unworked bits and chips, from the size of a finger-nail up to 3 inches in length and 2 inches in breadth; so that there can be no doubt that this material was worked on the spot. These later finds have gone chiefly to the Rosgarten Museum. Mr. Leiner, writing in 1882 (B. 381), states that from the various stations on the Ueberlingersee he received 800 nephrite, 12 jadeite, 11 chloromelanite, and one saussurite, hatchets or chisels.

UNTER-UHLDINGEN.--Dr. Lachmann describes two settlements which have left their remains near the village of Unter-Uhldingen, about 1,000 feet from the shore and nearly a mile apart, and each covering about 8 to 10 acres. On the other hand, Mr. Böll makes mention of only one station, which he characterises as the largest in Lake Constance, covering some 30 acres. Both stations contained several well-defined steinbergs--three in one and four in the other--in which were cross-beams binding the piles together, like the steinberg at Nidau. The relics belong to all ages, and indicate a continued duration from the Stone Age down to the Roman period, if not even for some centuries later. The Stone Age relics are similar to those found on the other stations in the Ueberlingersee. Dr. Lachmann describes among the flint saws one 9½ inches long. The celts, chisels, and axes numbered about 300, and the spindle-whorls 40. Pottery was more abundantly met with here, and better made, than in any of the other stations. About 130 fragments and whole dishes indicate a great variety of vessels--cups, jars, vases, covers, etc. Some had handles, and others were ornamented in a variety of ways (=Fig. 32=, No. 27); and, besides the Bronze Age pottery, there were bits of red earthenware, the well-known Samian ware (_terra sigillata_) of the Romans.