Part 6

MÄNNEDORF.--I have already incidentally referred to the discovery of the site of a lake-dwelling at Männedorf before 1854, when such antiquities were not understood (page 4). In 1866, however, a portion of lake-bottom close to where these early discoveries were made, measuring about eighty feet by thirty, was deepened to facilitate the passage of steamers, when further evidence as to the nature of this settlement was disclosed. The piles were so closely set that there was hardly the breadth of a pile between them. The objects collected were very similar to those already described from Ober-Meilen, among which was a spoon-like crucible like those from Robenhausen. (B. 126, p. 263.) The discovery of a second station near the mouth of the Surenbach, between Männedorf and Uetikon, was noticed by Dr. Keller in his second report. (B. 22, p. 121.)

UETIKON.--Remains of another station are to be found close by the landing stage at Uetikon, from which on several occasions antiquities of the Stone Age were picked up. More decided indications of the character of this settlement were, however, revealed in 1886, in consequence of some dredging operations that were carried on. On this occasion were found not only piles, bones of various animals, as stag, ox, and pig, fragments of pottery, stone hatchets, and flint implements--the usual relics of the Stone Age--but also a few bronze rings and hair-pins. (B. 462, p. 17.)

In the Zürich Museum may be seen a considerable number of the relics from this station, among which are twenty-three stone celts (one being still in its horn fastening), five flint saws or scrapers, four pointers of horn, and a semi-globular spindle-whorl.

ERLENBACH.--Near Erlenbach were two settlements, one at Winkel, a few minutes' walk above the village; and the other at Wyden, about an equal distance below it. In 1886 the usual indications of the Pfahlbau settlements, such as piles and various industrial relics, were found in the course of some dredging operations, but the objects were mostly dispersed. (B. 462, and 420a, p. 73.)

LETTEN.--In 1877, while digging a canal in connection with the Zürich waterworks, some remarkable antiquities of bronze and iron were dug up, which Dr. Keller describes in the eighth report of the lake-dwellings. They were found in a portion of the cutting extending some eight hundred yards in length at a place called Letten, on the right bank of the Limmat, nearly opposite to where the Zihl joins it. The objects lay in a fine mud deposited by the river, and underneath a bed of gravel of the same origin. Dr. Keller came to the conclusion that the "Lettenfunde" belonged to a settlement analogous to, and probably contemporary with, the later Pfahlbauten, with the relics from which they in many respects agree. A careful inspection of the Letten relics--which include two swords, one or two spear-heads, a variety of winged celts, a couple of sickles with raised buttons, knives, a great number of hair-pins of diversified forms, an involved ring-ornament, etc., all of bronze--shows that they are of a more recent period than the lake-dwellings. Among the bronze celts are forms (as for example that in =Fig. 3=, No. 35) which have never been found in the true relic bed of a lake-dwelling; and besides there are other objects, such as a fibula, and a piece of iron partly fashioned, probably intended for a sword, which are characteristic of the La Tène period. (See =Fig. 87=, No. 6.) While deepening the bed of the Limmat similar objects, as well as those of preceding and succeeding ages (Roman), have been frequently found. The Letten objects correspond more with the pre-Roman antiquities found in the Nidau-Büren Canal and in some of the later tumuli, and may therefore be said to link together the products of two very different civilisations, viz. the bronze age of the lake-dwellings, and the subsequent iron age, so characteristic in La Tène.

For the relative positions of these stations see Sketch Map, page 9.

LAKE OF BIENNE.

INVESTIGATIONS IN THE JURA LAKES, AND ARCHÆOLOGICAL RESULT OF THE "CORRECTION DES EAUX DU JURA."--At a short distance from the eastern shore of Lake Bienne, near where the Zihl by several mouths found its former exit, there exists, or rather formerly existed, a stony elevation, covering an area of some three acres, which rose gradually from a depth of about 20 feet to within 7 or 8 of the surface. This curious cairn-like structure, being in marked contrast with the surrounding lake sediments which here consist chiefly of fine mud, was well-known to the fishermen as the "Steinberg," _i.e._ stone hillock. Among these stones were many projecting heads of piles which, to prevent injury to their nets, the fishermen were in the habit from time to time of pulling out. Moreover, at various times, on or near this steinberg, Roman tiles and some fantastically shaped objects covered with chalky concretions were picked up, which fostered a vague opinion that it was the foundation of a Roman fortress or lighthouse.

In 1854 Colonel Schwab and Mr. Müller of Nidau made a careful investigation of the steinberg, the result of which was to leave no doubt that it was the site of a lake-village which had been erected over the piles, the stumps of which then only were detected among the stones. These stones were of a pretty uniform size, not too large to be transported readily by human hands, and in material they were exactly similar to those scattered among the glacial _débris_ on the neighbouring slopes. Interspersed in this cairn were, not only the upright piles of round or split stems, singly and in groups, but also transverse beams, which had evidently not fallen at random but had been intentionally placed and jammed between the uprights to keep them more firmly in position. The strange-looking objects turned out to be bronze implements encrusted with such a coating of lime that their metallic nature had been effectually concealed. The station quickly proved to be exceedingly rich in antiquities of new and varied forms. Not only the usual objects of the Stone Age, but even implements of iron and fragments of pottery of unusual elegance were fished up.

This discovery was greatly talked of in the district, and led to such a lively search for the sites of lacustrine abodes that before the end of the year some half-dozen stations were identified in the Lake of Bienne alone, not to mention a much larger number in the adjacent lakes. Notwithstanding the difficulties under which these lacustrine investigations were conducted, as dredging or digging under several feet of water was both laborious and expensive, the number of objects collected by the Swiss antiquaries in those early years is astonishingly great, as evidence of which I have only to point to the collections of Col. Schwab and Professor Desor.

It is often the case that antiquarian remains owe their discovery to the mere accident of agricultural operations, peat-cutting, drainage, etc. Such operations are, however, usually confined to small lakes and bogs. The idea of partially lowering the surface of the extensive sheets of water in the Jura valley, comprising the lakes of Bienne, Neuchâtel, and Morat, was too chimerical to be ever entertained in the interests of archæology. But what was inconceivable and utterly beyond hope from this point of view, became, in the interests of agriculture, not only a practical problem, but is now an accomplished fact. Between the lakes of Bienne, Neuchâtel, and Morat, there stretches a vast mossy district known as the "Gross Moos," through which the combined surplus water of the two latter lakes finds its way to the former. From the north end of Lake Bienne the surplus water again emerges, and is conveyed by the Zihl or Lower Thielle in a sluggish channel for some miles farther down the valley, where, before the Correction des Eaux du Jura, it united with the Aar. As the surface of these lakes is nearly on the same level, it is more than probable that in early prehistoric times their waters formed one united sheet, which in the course of ages became separated into three lakes by the interposition of the sedimentary and peaty deposits now forming the Gross Moos. Their connecting channels, the Broye and the Upper Thielle, owing to the sluggishness of the flow, became gradually raised by the constant deposition of mud, thus proportionately raising the level of the confined waters, and consequently rendering the surrounding lands more and more liable to submergence. Also, the river Aar, though passing quite in the vicinity of the lake of Bienne, went a long way beyond it before joining with the Zihl, and often caused great havoc by flooding the richly-cultivated lands of the lower grounds.

To remedy these defects the Swiss Government entered on the gigantic project of rectifying and deepening the entire waterway from the junction of the Lower Thielle with the Aar to the mouth of the Broye in Lake Morat. The scheme also included the cutting of a new channel for the Aar, by means of which it would be entirely diverted from its old course, and made to debouch into Lake Bienne by a straight and much shorter route. (See Sketch Map, page 23.)

The hydrographical result of these works (which were begun in 1868, and only completed a few years ago) was to lower the surface of these lakes to the extent of six or eight feet. In the winter of 1871-2 the operations began to tell on Lake Bienne, but it was some years later before the others became sensibly affected. When, however, the works were completed, the permanent effect on these lakes, especially on Lake Neuchâtel, was very marked--harbours, jetties, and extensive tracts of shore-land being left high and dry by the subsiding waters. This was the harvest-time of archæology. Many of the lacustrine abodes became dry land, and were visited by crowds of eager searchers; even fishermen forsook their normal avocations, finding it more profitable to fish for prehistoric relics. Government at last interfered with this indiscriminate "howking," and passed a law restricting the privilege of excavating to the authorities of the respective Cantons on whose territories the stations happened to be. Thus the "Correction des Eaux du Jura," as the undertaking was called, greatly facilitated the investigations of the Swiss lake-dwellings, and contributed enormously to the elucidation of the culture and civilisation of their inhabitants.

In the following descriptive notes of the stations in Lake Bienne I follow simply the order of their distribution along its shore, making, as it were, a circular tour of the lake, beginning at Nidau, and passing along its southern shore, then round to the other side, until we come back to our starting-point.

NIDAU-STEINBERG.--This station was so thoroughly investigated by Colonel Schwab and his assistants that little remained to be done after the lowering of the water. The objects collected are both numerous and varied, and being among the earlier of the kind brought to light from the lake-dwellings, they have been fully illustrated by Dr. Keller. (B. 15 and 22.) Among them were some heavy stone weights, some perforated, and some with an iron hoop; discoidal stones, with a marginal groove; a variety of corn crushers, polishers, and hammer-stones, etc.

_Bronze._--Sickles and axes, both socketed and winged, generally with a side loop, but without a notch at the top. Knives were numerous, and some were ornamented with flowing lines and semicircles; they were hafted by tangs or sockets, but in a few instances the blade and handle were cast in one piece. Several spear-heads, one of which is richly ornamented with a series of rings and a serpentine pattern; a few arrow-points with barbs; several socketed chisels of various sizes; numerous needles, hair-pins, fish-hooks, curiously-shaped pendants, rings, and bifurcated pincer-like objects; one hexagonal-shaped hammer with a socket, and another having a small loop attached to the side like that of a celt. Some remarkably fine bracelets, open at the ends, and hollow, and having the outside ornamented with concentric circles, lines, etc.; others are solid, or made of spirally-grooved wire. A number of so-called razors, buttons, studs, broad-headed nails, spirals, the central portion of a horse-bit, etc.

_Gold._--A small spiral of gold wire, and a square piece of thin plate neatly corrugated.

_Iron._--A few conical javelins with sockets.

_Pottery._--The potter's art seems to have been carried to great perfection. The vessels were of all sizes, from two to three feet in diameter down to the most tiny objects. They were generally round at the base, and required ring supports, of which many were found. Some shallow plates were ornamented with squares, oblongs, and circles. Various forms of spindle-whorls, some of which are made of fine paste, and blackened with charcoal, like the finest pottery. Over twenty clay crescents, represented by fragments, and one of stone. Some clay cylinders, weights, and a few rude figures of a four-footed animal.

_Bone, Wood, etc._--A few bone implements, pointers, etc.; the side piece of a bridle-bit of staghorn, perforated with three holes; portion of a yoke, clubs, etc.; bits of clay with marks of wattle-work.

GRASEREN.--A small station concealed in rushes, and containing large piles. The antiquities consist of a few iron objects, one being a dagger with the handle ornamented with silver wire, and a few mealing-stones and rubbers, etc. (B. 22.)

SUTZ.--This was a very large settlement, the piles extending over an area of about 6 acres. It was connected with the shore by a bridge or gangway, about 100 yards long and 13 wide. Within its area several steinbergs were interspersed; and the relic-bed, from 4 to 16 inches thick, was near the surface. The piles were mostly of oak, and irregularly placed. The antiquities are classified as belonging to both the Stone Age and the Bronze Age, among which the following are the more interesting (B. 15 and 286):--

_Stone._--Hatchets of the usual form (a few of nephrite) and others perforated; beads or spindle-whorls, one of quartz; flint arrow-heads, flakes, and knives.

_Horn._--Among the horn objects were fixers for axe-heads, many with a =V=-shaped split at the end, probably for being better fixed in the wooden handle; perforated portions of staghorns, in the form of hammers and clubs, three of which, in the Museum at Bern, are remarkable for their irregular forms.

_Amber._--Two or three well-made beads.

_Bronze._--A sword (=Fig. 186=, No. 9), a fibula, a winged celt with burnt portion of the wooden handle still remaining between the flanges, a few hair-pins, and a hook shaped like a Roman key.

_Iron._--Two lance-heads like those from Nidau, and a curious trident-like object. (B. 31, Pl. xv. 10.)

_Wood._--A bow of yew, quite perfect (length, 5 feet 3 inches), portion of basket-work, and some wooden dishes with handles.

_Pottery._--The ceramic art is poorly represented here; only fragments of a coarse quality, and ornamented with finger or string marks, are recorded. (B. 462, Pl. ix. 4.) Two clay cylinders are in the Museum at Bern, like those from Wollishofen (=Fig. 5=, Nos. 5 and 10), together with some perforated clay weights.

In the neighbourhood of this station there are some ruins of Roman buildings, a fact which is suggestive as an explanation of a quern or millstone made after the Roman fashion, which is reckoned as a relic from this lake-dwelling. From systematic investigations carried on here in 1884, Dr. v. Fellenberg concluded that the station belonged to the transition period, like Vinelz. (B. 462, p. 34.)

LATTRINGEN.--Dr. Gross describes two stations here, both of which, from the prevailing character of the antiquities, appear to have belonged to the Stone Age, although previous to his investigations some bronze objects were said to have been fished up from one of them by Colonel Schwab.

The first, or lower station, covered a space of some 5 acres, and its remains are situated opposite the little port of the village of Lattringen. It was connected with the shore by four bridges, the largest of which was 65 yards long and 14 feet wide. The relics collected by Dr. Gross are of the Stone Age, and among them are staghorn haftings and a fine harpoon with 11 barbs and a perforation at its obtuse extremity. According to Fellenberg, this station belonged to the middle Stone Age period, as it has yielded no copper implements, nor perforated hammer-axes, but on the other hand most excellent nephrite implements. (B. 462, p. 35.) The collection of objects from this station in the Cantonal Museum at Bern contains among other things:--Daggers; chisels, harpoons, and pointers of bone and horn; some perforated horn hammers and horn holders for stone axes (only two of which have the end split); a number of flint arrow-points, all flat based. A few stone beads and bits of rock crystal. One small dagger-blade with four rivet-holes is of bronze or copper.

Previous to Dr. Gross's report, the following objects have been recorded as coming from this station:--Mealing-stones, fragments of coarse pottery, a bronze dagger, a shovel-shaped bronze axe, and a spiral ring, also of bronze. (B. 15, p. 95.) The upper station is 500 or 600 feet from the former, just opposite the erratic block known as the _Sumpfstein_. It contained a small steinberg, and yielded fine lance-heads of flint, a stone axe of serpentine sharpened at both ends and perforated with an oval hole, and one or two horn objects. (See =Fig. 186=, Nos. 7 and 11.)

MOERINGEN.--Judging from the number and variety of antiquities collected from Moeringen, it must be ranked as the most important station in Lake Bienne. The settlement occupied a sheltered bay called the "Moeringen Ecken," and covered a rectangular area about 550 feet long and 350 wide. The relic-bed was covered with eight or ten inches of sand and mud. When discovered, and during the earlier years of its investigation, piles were seen protruding more or less out of the mud, and among them could be readily distinguished the ends of several canoes. Investigations have been made here almost every favourable season since its discovery by Mr. Müller in 1854, but in the winter of 1872-3 Government took the matter into their own hands, and conducted systematic explorations under the care of Messrs. Fellenberg and Jenner. It then became apparent that there were two stations in this bay--one belonging to the Stone Age, and another to the Bronze Age--between which a well-defined distinction could be made, especially in respect of the piles. The former occupied a position nearer the shore, and the stumps of its piles were hardly visible; while the latter was in deeper water, and its piles, less decayed than the former, projected 1½ to 2 feet above the lake sediment. Both had bridges extending to the shore, as was indicated in each case by the remains of a double row of piles. But while the bridge of the Stone Age settlement was 5 to 8 feet wide, that of the Bronze Age was 10 to 12 feet wide, and moreover it was much longer, being over 200 yards in length. Dr. v. Fellenberg calculates, from counting the piles in one or two selected places, that for the entire bronze settlement somewhere about 10,000 piles must have been used.

The exploration of the settlement at Moeringen undertaken by Government was continued in 1874, by which time the level of the lake had fallen to such a degree that most of the bronze station was laid dry, and many additional relics were added to the already large collections from this station. Among the more interesting may be mentioned some burnt boards and posts with square holes, supposed to indicate the position and remains of huts or workshops. (B. 271.)

The earlier investigators, Col. Schwab and Mr. Müller, collected from this station a number of objects, now deposited in the Schwab Museum, among which are the following:--An iron sword of the La Tène type, and a curious iron fork. Of bronze, there are knives, hair-pins, and a variety of pendants. Some beads of glass and amber. Novel specimens of earthenware; charred apples, grains of wheat, and beans; ropes and cords made of flax and bast; etc.

The smaller station, according to Fellenberg, belonged to the middle Stone Age period. A number of stone beads, some of white quartz, were found in a contracted space, which are supposed to have formed a necklace. (B. 462, p. 36.)

The two best collections from Moeringen are in the Cantonal Museum and in the Federal Government rooms (Gross collection), both at Bern.

Of the very remarkable antiquities found here, Dr. Gross (B. 286) gives a full account, classifying the objects under the following heads:--

1. _Arms._--Swords (=Fig. 186=, Nos. 4, 5, and 6), daggers, lances, arrows. 2. _Instruments._--Hatchets, sickles, polishing stones, discoidal stones, anvils, spindle-whorls, and weaving weights. 3. _Objects of Dress._--Girdles and belt-buckles, hair-pins, fibulæ, bracelets, rings, earrings, beads of amber and glass, etc. 4. _Objects belonging to Horses' Harness._--Bridle-bits of bronze, iron, and horn; phaleræ. (See =Fig. 191=, Nos. 3 to 7, and 13.) 5. Pottery, crescents, etc. 6. Sundry objects.

As specimens of the bronze relics from this station, I give the illustrations on =Fig. 6=, selected from the beautiful coloured plates of Desor and Favre. (B. 252.) The purpose of these objects is sufficiently manifest without entering on a detailed description.

I will only remark that the unique dagger, the handle of which is here only represented (No. 5), consists of a stout bronze rod twenty-one inches long, pointed at one end, and becoming quadrangular at the other, where it enters a socket in the handle. The free end of the handle terminates in a fixed ring, on which are three movable rings; and on its body there is a secondary handle, with a curious curved appendage in front of it.

GERLAFINGEN (GEROFIN).--There were two settlements here also--one of the Stone Age, covering little more than half an acre; and the other of the Bronze Age, of much larger dimensions and farther from the shore than the former. The stations had separate bridges, the remains of which again suggested that these approaches were larger during the Bronze Age. The Stone Age station was covered with mud, and the relics from it consisted of stone celts (one perforated), flint flakes, and some fragments of coarse pottery.