LAKE-DWELLINGS. 43 



date is proved by the great number of sherds scattered over their sites. Entire 

 vessels also have been found, partly flat-bottomed. The material is mostly 

 unpurified clay mixed with coarse gravel, pounded granite, small fragments of 

 shells, or charcoal. The A^essels are of rather rude appearance, and slightly 

 baked, probably in an open fire. Yet attempts at decoration are not wanting, 

 some of the vessels being encircled by knobs below the rim, or showing rows of 

 impressions made with the finger* or some blunt tool ; while in other cases lines 

 are traced with an implement or by pressing a cord on the soft clay. Most of 

 the pottery has a blackish appearance, owing to a coating wuth some dark 

 l^igment. There is evidence that vessels of larger size were used for storing 

 grain, apples, and other provisions. This pottery can hardly be distinguished 

 fi'om that formerly made by the Indians in the eastern half of the present 

 United States. 



Not the least interesting among the lacustrine relics, preserved in conse- 

 quence of their carbonization, are the twisted, plaited, and woven manufactures, 

 which were found at various stations, but especially at Robenhausen and Wangen. 

 A kind of short flax was cultivated by the lake-men, and used most extensively in 

 the fabrication not only of thread, cordage, and nets for fishing, and probably 

 for hunting, but also of different sorts of linen cloth, some with inwoven 

 patterns, a fact proving that they employed a loom. Numerous spindle-whorls, 

 either of stone or of clay, bear witness to the common practice of spinning. 

 The lake-people doubtless dressed to a great extent in woven garments ; but it 

 may be assumed that they also employed the prepared skins of animals for that 

 purpose. Indeed, fragments of leather have been found at Robenhausen. 



During the early lacusti'ine period hunting still furnished in no small 

 degree the means of subsistence, as shown by the large number of bones of wild 

 animals found on the sites of the ancient lake-villages. Professor Riitimeyer, 

 of Basel, has carefully investigated the fauna of those times, which, on the 

 whole, corresponds to that of our days, though certain species of animals now 

 no longer found in Switzerland then inhabited that country. The urus and 

 aurochs, or bison, were hunted by the lake-men, or perhaps caught by them in 

 pitfalls. The elk, an animal not known to have lived in Switzerland in 

 historical times, still roamed through the woods ; but the reindeer, it is hardly 

 necessary to repeat, had migrated northward in search of a colder climate. The 

 stag and wild boar, both no longer living in Switzerland, were much hunted by 

 the lake-dwellers, and their bones indicate animals of very large size. Another 

 species of wild hog, differing from the wild boar proper, and called the " marsh- 

 hog " by Riitimeyer, is represented by numerous remains in the pile-works. 



* The impressions indicate small hands. The lacustrine ceramic art, it may be assumed, was practised by 

 •women, as it was, and still is, among the North American Indians. 



