402 PALAFITTES, OR LACUSTRIAN CONSTRUCTIONS 



small lake of Keutscbacli to the soutli of Lake Worth. The relics collected, as 

 yet not numerous, are associated with stony shallows, which recall our tene- 

 vieres, and hence indicate the age of stone.* The marshes of Pomerania 

 also, it would seem, are about to furnish their contingent; in the circle of Lub- 

 tow have just been discovered palafittes in all respects analogous to those of 

 E,obenhausen. Here two apchgeological strata are recognized. In the lower are 

 found fragments of pottery, vases with figures, axes in serpentine, silex and 

 amphibole, a chisel with circular socket of bronze, horns of the stag and roe, 

 carbonized grains, especially of wheat, barley, and peas. In the upper stratum, 

 which is very distinct from the former, are found also utensils of iron. We shall 

 receive, no doubt, without delay, more detailed information respecting these in- 

 teresting discoveries. The lakes of France, apart from those of Savoy,f have 

 not yet been explored in a persistent manner. There is good reason to suppose, 

 however, that when the peat beds and ponds, which are so numerous in many 

 departments, shall have been attentively examined, traces will be eventually de- 

 tected of our diiferent lacustriau ages, for it is scarcely possible that Gaul should 

 have been unoccupied while numerous tribes existed at the foot of the Alps. 



The skilful explorations of MM. Strobel and Pignorini in regard to the pala- 

 fittes of Italy are well kuown.f In the Parmesan are small hills, which bear 

 the name of Monti, and from the sides of which is taken a sort of ammoniacal 

 earth, mixed with cinders, called terra mara, which serves as a fertilizer for 

 me^ows. In excavating a gallery in one of these monti, M. Strobel, assisted 

 by M. Pignorini, found posts supporting a sort of floor, and between the posts 

 objects of bronze, in all points similar to those of our lakes, accompanied by 

 earthen vessels of very careful workmanship, although fabricated without the 

 help of the wheel. § Consequently this artificial hill, with its fertilizing earth, 

 which encloses the remains of an age evidently later, (Etruscan and Ligurian,) 

 has for its nucleus and origin a construction on piles of the age of bronze, whence 

 it must be concluded that the age of bronze is anterior to the establishment of all 

 the other populations which have left their remains on the flanks of these hills. 



The objects found at these different stations, those of Lago Maggiore, described 

 by M. Gastaldi, those we have ourselves collected at the lake of Varese, those of 

 the hill of Castione iu the Parmesan, of the Veronese, are sufficiently numerous 

 and well characterized to leave no doubt about their perfect identity with those 

 of the Swiss lakes. The lakes of Italy, the plain of the Po, and the Veronese 

 have consequently been strewn, at a certain epoch, with constructions on piles, 

 erected by populations having the same usages, the same customs, and to all 

 appearance pertaining to the same stock. But can it be admitted that the 

 Roman authors, so many of whom knew and appreciated the beautiful sites of 

 the lakes of Italy, that Pliny, among others, who had his country seat on the 

 banks of Lake Como, would have neglected to mention lacustriau constructions 

 in the vicinage, and perhaps under the windoAvs of his mansion, so litle sparing 

 as he was of details respecting the men and things of his time? If, then, this 

 celebrated writer had not a single word to bequeath to us upon lacustrian habi- 

 tations, we feel authorized to conclude that these constructions existed no longer 



'- Bulletin of the Academy of Sciences of Vienna, vol. LI, Bericht ilber Nachforschungen 

 nach Pfahlbauten in den Seen von Karntlien unci lirain, by Professor Hochstetter. 



t See ou the palafittes of the lake of Bourget the excellent memoir by M. Laurent Eabut, 

 Habitations lacustres de la Savoie, witih an atlas of ]6 plates : Chambery, 1864. M. Eabut 

 still continues the sheets of this work, availing himself of the valuable assistance of M. 

 Costa de Beauregard. 



I Pignorini and Strobel, Die Tcrramara-Lagcr der Emilia, Mittheilungen der antiq. Gescll- 

 schaft in ZUrich, vol. XIV, Fifth Report of M. Keller. 



j A similar mound formed of the debris of ditlerent ages has been lately discovered by M. 

 Pignorini, at Basilicanova of Montechiarugolo, iu the Parmesan. See M. G. de Moi"tellet, 

 Malcriaux, t. II, p. tjd. 



