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.