The Primitive Inhabitants 



dotted with abounding remains of an ancient people, 

 whose habitations were built in the water, and who 

 passed away without leaving a tradition. Further 

 research found similar remains in Germany and the 

 lakes of Northern Italy. The traces of one such set- 

 tlement were found adjoining Pliny's villa. Yet Pliny 

 seems to have had no suspicion of their existence — to 

 have heard no tradition of its builders. 



The few years that have passed since the dis- 

 covery of the winter of 1853-4, have been so busily 

 used in the study of these remains, that a new chapter 

 of history has been sketched, the lake dwellers have be- 

 come a familiar name, and their epoch has become an 

 established starting point for reaching still further back 

 into the past. 



Their villages were built in shoal water, in a few 

 cases within twenty feet — sometimes several hundred 

 yards — from the shore. Piles, sometimes whole trunks, 

 sometimes split, were driven within a few feet of each 

 other, and cut off at top so as to make a level surface. 

 In many cases they were filled in between, with stones, 

 for firmness. A boat has been found lying on the bot- 

 tom, still holding its load of stones, just where it cap- 

 sized some thousands of years ago. In other cases, the 

 piles were strengthened with cross-pieces. On the outer 

 edge, toward the lake, a wattling of wicker-work pre- 

 vented waves from washing in. 



Over the surface was laid a floor of cross-timbers and 

 saplings; and this being covered with clay and pebbles, 

 made the groundwork of the settlement. Huts were 

 built in rows. All the huts appear to have been square, 

 and their main timbers to be long piles projecting above 



