162 CHARACTER OF THE OBJECTS 



evidence to be derived from these Swiss tumuli. M. Troy on 

 relies on the fact that many of the Lake-villages were 

 destroyed by fire, and that when, as appears to have been 

 the case at several places, they were rebuilt during the 

 Bronze age, this was done, not exactly on the same spot, 

 but farther away from the bank. Dr. Keller, on the other 

 hand, considers that the primitive population did not differ, 

 either in disposition (anlage), mode of life, or industry, 

 from that which was acquainted with the use of bronze ; and 

 that the whole phenomena of the Lake-villages, from their 

 commencement to their conclusion, indicate most clearly a 

 gradual and peaceable development. The number of in- 

 stances in which Lake- villages had been destroyed by fire 

 has been, he considers, exaggerated. Of the settlements on 

 the Lakes of Bienne and Neufchatel, amounting in all to 

 sixty-six, only a quarter have, according to Col. Schwab, 

 shown any traces of combustion ; a proportion which is, 

 perhaps, not greater than might have been expected, re- 

 membering that the huts were built of wood, and in all pro- 

 bability covered by thatch. Moreover, if these conflagrations 

 had resulted from the attacks of enemies, we ought surely to 

 have found numerous remains of the slain, whereas all the 

 Lake- villages together have as yet only supplied us with the 

 remains of six human skeletons. 



It must, I think, be confessed that the arguments used by 

 M. Troyon do not justify us in believing with him that the 

 introduction of bronze was accompanied by an entire change 

 of population. The construction of Lake-dwellings is a 

 habit so unusual, that the continuance of similar habitations 

 during the Bronze age seems to me a strong argument 

 against any such hypothesis. 



The evidence of increasing civilisation is more satisfactory. 

 During my visit to Switzerland I endeavoured to obtain 

 statistics as to the objects found in the different Pfahlbauten, 



