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.

Fig. 6.—Moeringen. All bronze and 1⁄2 real size.

The second station (Unter Station oder Oefeliplätze) contains a steinberg which communicated with an adjacent tongue of land by a bridge. There was no well-defined relic-bed, but the relics picked up are of great value, among which are the following[3]:—A number of nephrite and jadeite hatchets, a nephrite knife in its horn handle, flint knives, a wooden spoon, a miniature canoe, four copper chisels (B. 286, Pl. ix. 34 and 35), two flat hatchets of bronze, showing rudimentary wings, a double-stemmed hair-pin (B. 286, Pl. x. 2), two daggers of bronze, one triangularly shaped (B. 286, Pl. iii. 17), a massive bracelet of bronze, some staghorn hammers, a scoop, some large clay weights, etc. In the Bern Museum are thirteen beads of copper, graduated so as to form a necklet; some arrow-heads of rock crystal; an ammonite and another shell (pectunculus), both perforated; also some perforated small bones, teeth, and beads of horn. (B. 462, p. 64, and Pl. xiv.) Dr. Gross estimates the number of jade implements from Oefeli at thirty or forty, the largest being four inches long, and the smallest one inch (both of nephrite).

Piles were found in various spots in this locality; and associated with one group were Roman remains, such as fragments of tiles, pottery, coins, and bits of glass.

Hagneck.—In this locality, near where the Aar now debouches into the lake, and about one hundred yards from the shore, were formerly to be seen some piles, but the relic-bed seemed to have been washed away. Desor found some stone hatchets and a few other relics. The station was connected with the shore by a bridge sixty-five yards long and thirteen feet wide.

Ile de St. Pierre.—On the south side of this island there are remains of an extensive settlement, the piles of which run parallel to the bank. A large canoe was observed here, lying in the mud, apparently having been swamped with a load of stones, with which it still was filled. It was 50 feet long, and 3½ to 4 feet wide. Near the piles a bronze pin with an oval head, and ornamented with wavy lines, was picked up. Another station was on the north-east side of the island, which is now dry, and on which a large number of bronze objects was collected; but there was no regular relic-bed, and as the objects were gathered on the surface, Dr. v. Fellenberg thinks it has been washed away. (B. 462, p.31.) Among the relics are a bronze knife, a compound pendant curiously arranged (B. 286, Pl. viii. 3), a pair of pincers, portion of a chain consisting of rings and bands, and several fragments of swords, celts, and sickles; also an iron sword with the handle of bronze.

On the south side of the Ile des Lapins there are some piles, which point to this being the site of a station, but on the island itself antiquities of various ages have been collected, such as Roman roofing tiles and coins, a pretty gold ornament, and many objects of Gallo-Roman manufacture.

Locras (Lüscherz).—Owing to the depth of water over the ruins of the settlement opposite this village, the station, although known to Colonel Schwab, did not assume any importance till the winter of 1871-2, when the waters commenced to fall, and the Bernese Government undertook a series of investigations. The extent of the settlement was estimated by Dr. Gross at about four acres, and it had been connected with the shore by a short bridge. The relic-bed, four to twenty inches thick, lay under a considerable accumulation of sand and gravel, and consisted of a blackish stratum of organic débris, which appears to have been peculiarly favourable for the preservation of the usually perishable objects of human industry. It is therefore singularly rich in such remains, and has furnished balls of linen thread, fragments of cloth made of flax, heaps of grain, and various remains of cultivated plants.

In prosecuting the exploration of the station it was found that the relic-bed became more deeply buried the farther it was pursued outwards; so that from 2½ feet, its depth on the shore side, it gradually increased to 7½ on the opposite side. The piles were of oak, beech, silver fir, pine, poplar, and birch, mostly in the form of round stems. All these different kinds of wood appear to have been used in nearly the same proportion all over the settlement except at the north-west corner, at a place called the Steinberg, where the piles were entirely of split oak stems. Another peculiarity was that the piles were more superficial, and hence it was suggested that this corner was of later date. Like most of the other lake-dwelling settlements, the woodwork showed marks of burning. The theory of some sudden catastrophe, such as a general conflagration, was strengthened by the number of human remains—no less than three skulls and some bones of the trunk and extremities—that were found at a depth of 3 feet.

Among the antiquities recorded by Dr. Gross (B. 286) the following may be mentioned:—

Stone.—Several hundreds of polished celts, about 30 of which were jadeite or nephrite; flint implements of black and yellow flint, and beautifully formed, such as lance-heads, arrow-points, saws, and flakes; some round pebbles, about the size of a pigeon's egg, encircled with birch-bark, and arranged in a row, like peas in a pod; spindle-whorls, corn-crushers, etc.

Horn and Bone.—A large number of haftings, probably from 600 to 800, many still retaining a stone celt or chisel; about 40 axe-hammer heads, perforated with a square or round hole; two little combs with three teeth; chisels, needles, awls, bodkins, arrow-points; a carding implement made of a number of small ribs pointed at one end and tied together, etc.

Pottery.—A large number of entire vessels and fragments show that two qualities of paste were used, a coarse and a fine kind. Among them are bowls, plates, jugs—some having the ordinary handle and others perforated knobs; clay weights, round, cylindrical, or conical.

Sundry Objects.—Portion of a spindle with the thread wound round it (carbonised), various wooden handles, dishes, and implements; fragments of cloth, matting, burnt straw, etc. One small flat dagger of copper is in the Bern Museum.

The following extract from the Government Report by Mr. Jenner, Dr. v. Fellenberg's deputy (B. 119, 2nd ed., p. 203), gives a good idea of the comparative numbers of these relics:—"The results of my excavations, which occupied 27 days, and extended over an area of 20,000 square feet, at a medium depth of 3½ feet, the relic-bed being from 2 inches to 1½ foot thick, were as follows:—

1.Stone implements600
2.Staghorn do.480
3.Bone   do.235
4.Pieces of cloth50
5.Objects for ornament45
6.Entire vessels of pottery11
7.Stone celts and axes in their haftings23
8.Flint implements121
9.Unworked pieces of staghorn430
10.Wooden implements24
11.Ornamented potsherds26
12.Clay weights8
13.Celts of nephrite and jadeite8
14.A number of net-weights in birch-bark.

Contiguous to the station just described, on its north-east side, and separated from it by a dozen paces or so, there came subsequently to light another station, described by Dr. Gross as "Une nouvelle palafitte de l'époque de la pierre à Locras." (B. 336 and 347.) Its area was only about a fourth of the former, and the relic-bed, being quite near the surface, was easily worked. Two human skulls were found here, one of which appears to have been used as a drinking-cup. From the character of the relics generally, the settlement seems to have flourished during the transition period. There were perforated axe-hammer heads, with grooves and raised ridges, like Scandinavian forms, and a few metal objects. The latter consist of three articles of copper—a remarkable double celt of large size ([Fig. 186], No. 10), a dagger, and an awl—and three articles of bronze, viz. a sword, a dagger-blade, and a hair-pin. The other objects are of the usual Stone Age type, among which may be noted as of rather uncommon occurrence an arrow-point of nephrite (B. 347, Pl. ii. 9), and a knife of the same material with one cutting edge ([Fig. 185], No. 28).

Vinelz (Fenil).—This station, which is now entirely on dry land, was accidentally discovered in 1881 by labourers while digging a ditch to carry off water accumulating on the fields.[4] At a depth of two or three feet of sand and gravel they came upon a blackish bed of mud-earth, in which were detected a number of piles, the heads of which projected upwards into the sand and gravel for about a foot. Dr. Gross, who was informed of the circumstance, soon visited the spot, and at once recognised the site of a lake-dwelling. It appears that the locality is much exposed to the north winds, and that the settlement had thus become completely covered over with sand and gravel thrown up on the shore, as was the case with the station of Wangen in the Untersee. During the spring and summer of 1882 the new Pfahlbau was investigated by several experts, including Drs. Gross and v. Fellenberg. The station is remarkable for the number of copper objects which it has yielded to the systematic explorations ordered by Fellenberg, and carefully conducted by Ed. Matthys, of Ligerz. From the results thus obtained, the station at Vinelz is the most typical yet discovered of the final Stone Age period (Uebergangszeit). (B. 462, p. 33.) The following are some of the antiquities collected, most of which are in the Cantonal Museum of Bern and the Gross collection.

Among nearly 100 copper objects (including 46 beads, [Fig. 7], No. 31) are several daggers (Nos. 26 and 28), flat axes (No. 27), chisels (No. 24), rude knives, awls (Nos. 17 and 25), pendants (No. 23), tubes and spirals (Nos. 22 and 30). No bronze or iron object has yet been found on this station. Bone and horn handles, polished daggers, large button-like objects (Nos. 20 and 21), perforated clubs, ornamental pins (Nos. 15, 16, and 18), etc., are numerous. Perforated stone axes and the ordinary polished celts are common (about 40 of the former and 100 of the latter being in the Bern Museum). Flint daggers, sometimes worked at both ends (No. 12), are also very fine; two were found in their wooden handles (No. 11). For more firmly fixing them a fine band of reed or withe was neatly rolled round the handle. A variety of flint arrow-heads, scrapers, etc. (Nos. 1 to 9), clay weights of different forms, implements of pointed ribs, basket-work, etc. For bits of well-woven cloth, thread, and fishing-nets, this station vies with Robenhausen. A portion of a spindle has some thread still round it. There was an entire fishing-net (carbonised) associated with a number of stone sinkers.

The pottery (Nos. 29, 32, and 33) was ornamented with dots and string-marks. One vessel had a horn-shaped handle projecting from the body of the vessel.

Wooden objects are also well represented in the form of dishes, clubs, handles, and net-floats. One portion of wood had some pointed flints stuck in it with resin, which had evidently been used like a saw ([Fig. 185], No. 17), finger-marks having been cut out in the wood, by means of which the instrument could be more readily grasped.

Fig. 7—Vinelz. Nos. 29, 32 and 33 = 1⁄4, the rest = 1⁄2 real size.

Saint Jean.—A little less than a mile from the lake, in the marshy plain, some bronze objects were found, which point to this as the site of a station. Below Landerdon there are also some piles, the tops of which are much decayed and deeply buried in mud. Dr. Gross is reported to have found here a sword of the Middle Ages.

Schaffis (Chavannes).—This settlement stretched as a narrow band on the left bank of the lake, and though known for a considerable time it remained unexplored till the lowering of the water facilitated its investigation. This was done by Dr. v. Fellenberg, in 1873, on behalf of the Government. (B. 271.)

Three steinbergs were found on its site, two of which were close together. In the vicinity of these steinbergs the piles were placed in rows running outward into the lake. Elsewhere they were irregularly but closely placed, seldom more than two feet apart, and penetrated deeply into the old black lake-sediment. Few timbers were met with, though twigs, basket-work, and charred food, were common.

The total length of the station was 640 feet, and greatest breadth 167 feet. The largest steinberg measured 217 by 65 feet. Several bridges, from 30 to 60 feet in length, connected the piled area with the shore. The station is now completely dry, and overgrown with vegetation.

On the steinbergs the relic-bed was quite superficial, being covered only with a thin layer of sand and gravel. The organic remains, such as staghorn haftings and bone implements, were of a blackish colour, and so much decomposed that few could be preserved from crumbling into pieces. Stone celts were very numerous, but unusually small, as, out of several hundred specimens, only a few reached the length of 5 or 6 inches. The majority were only 3 inches long, and although well polished and sharpened along the cutting edge, they were of inferior workmanship when compared with those of some other stations, such as Locras. They were all manufactured of materials readily found in the surrounding country, with the exception of three jade implements (two jadeite and one nephrite). Large slabs for grinding and polishing these tools were remarkably abundant.

On the other hand, the station is prominent for the beauty and elegance of its flint implements, many of which were, when found, still in their horn or wooden handles. Along with the horn haftings may be mentioned perforated hammers, chisels, barbed harpoons, pins, awls, flax-heckles, amulets, perforated teeth, and boars' tusks of great size. Among wooden objects the most remarkable are a wooden door, still retaining portion of a polished oval bolt of yew which traversed it horizontally (B. 336, p. 48), and a portion of a ladder (B. 347). The fragments of pottery indicated not only coarse material but rude workmanship. The clay is badly burnt, and it is uniformly mixed with pieces of quartz or small pebbles of the size of a pea. The vessels are roughly cylindrical, and have thick bases, but no ornamentation, not even the projecting knobs so characteristic of Locras. Some large clay balls, perforated in the centre, are probably loom-weights, and among the remains are bits of plaited and woven flax, which prove that the art of weaving was well known to the inhabitants. Dr. v. Fellenberg, from whose writings I have taken the substance of this notice, considers the settlement one of the earliest among the Swiss lake-dwellings and much inferior to some of the other Stone Age settlements in Lake Bienne.

A cup made from the upper part of a human skull found here has attracted much attention. (B. 119, 2nd ed., p. 221.)

Twann (Douanne).—It must be remembered that the west side of the lake does not present the same facilities for pile-dwellings as the opposite shore, owing to the steepness of the immediate shore-land and the rapidity with which deep water is met with. Moreover, the narrow strip of beach available for the purpose has become greatly covered up with alluvial deposits, as is proved from a discovery made at Twann. Here, at a depth of 15 or 20 feet, some workmen, while making excavations in connection with railway works near the quay, came upon a blackish bed of mould containing piles, pottery, staghorn implements, etc., which, on being inspected by Dr. Gross who happened to be passing at the time, was at once recognised as the site of a lacustrine station. Mr. Irlet, of Twann, has also discovered another station at Wingreis, in the vicinity of which the canoe, now so well preserved in the Museum at Neuveville, was found. ([See page 481].) The objects from Wingreis consist of stone hatchets, flints, and horn handles. (B. 462, p. 32.)

In 1886 another station, called "Bipschal," was announced by Dr. v. Fellenberg as having been discovered by Ed. Matthys between Ligerz and Twann. (B. 462, p. 35.)

Vingelz.—Dr. v. Fellenberg states (B. 462, p. 32) that in 1874, when the great canoe which for many years was known to be lying in the mud near Vingelz was raised, a deeply-buried relic-bed was brought to light.

Nearly 3,000 feet from the shore, and opposite the steinberg of Nidau, there is what is supposed to have been a small station, on which a few objects were found, among which is to be noted a great stone weight with an iron ring round it. A group of piles was observed to run from it in the direction of the Nidau steinberg, and hence it is conjectured that a bridge formerly connected the two. (B. 15 and 22.)

Between Vingelz and Bienne there is a small steinberg, on which a few arrow-heads of iron are said to have been found.

Port.—During the excavations for the "Correction des Eaux du Jura" some remarkable discoveries were made, especially along the Lower Thielle, between Nidau and Meyenried. Immediately below the little village of Port the remains of a palatitte of the Stone Age were met with. The station appeared to have been of considerable extent, as the piles were traced for several hundred yards along the line of the canal. The relic-bed was 7 feet below the surface, and amongst its débris were found various implements of stone and horn. Among the stone celts was one of nephrite, still in its horn fastening, the handle of which was covered over with a bluish coating of amorphous vivianite. (B. 446, p. 11.)