J, Lubbock on the Ancient Lake Habitations of Switzerland. 167 



have avoided the use of large trees, except in making their ca- 

 noes. Their piles v^^ere imbedded in the mud for from one to five 

 feet, and must also have projected from four to six feet above the 

 water level, which cannot have been very different from at pres- 

 ent. They must, therefore, have had a length of from 15 to SO 

 feet, and they were from 3 to 9 inches in diameter. The pointed 

 extremity which entered into the mud still bears the marks of 

 the fire, and the rude cuts made by the stone hatchets. The piles 

 belonging to the Bronze period being prepared with metal axes, 

 were much more regularly pointed, and the differences between 

 the two have been ingeniously compared to those shown by lead 

 pencils well and badly cut. Draging the piles to the lake, and 

 fixing them firmly, must have required much labor, especially 

 when their number is considered. At Wangen alone M. Lohle 

 has calculated that 40,000 piles have been used ; but we must re- 

 member that these were probably not all planted at one time, 

 nor by one generation. Wangen, indeed, was certainly not built 

 in a day, but was, no doubt, gradually added to as the popula- 

 tion increased. Herodotus informs us that the Poeonians made 

 the first platform at the public expense, but that subsequently 

 at every marriage (and polygamy was permitted), the bride- 

 groom was expected to add a certain number of piles to the com- 

 nion support. In some localities, as at Kobenhausen, on liake 

 Pfeflfikon, the piles were strengthened by cross beams. The 

 Pileworks of subsequent period's differ little from those of the 

 Stone age, except, perhaps, that they are more solidly constructed. 

 J; he piles, also, are less decayed and project above the mud far- 

 ther than those of the preceeding epoch. M. Morlot considers 

 that the horizontal platform rested upon the top of these piles, 

 f such a height as to allow for all ordinary variations m the 

 ^evel of the water. M. Suter, however, supposes that m some 

 fases, at least, the platform was not attached to the perpendicu- 

 l^^ piles, but rested upon the water, rising and sinking with it. 

 ^te structure of the Pileworks at Wauwyl, m the Canton ot 

 J-iicerne, certainlv seems to favor this view'. It was composed 

 offou 



cerne, certainly seems to favor this view', it was cujup. 

 four rpntar,„„io^ ^;„;o;^r,o oor^amtpd bv narrow channejs, ( 



.- rectangular divisions, separated by , , , , • , „ 

 ^hich, no doSbt, bridges were thrown, and through which ca- 

 ^oes might pass. The piles were less numerous than i^s«al and 

 5^-"e grouped principally around the outer edge of tbe platforms. 

 I^tbiscase they have been preserved by peat; tbey ^re fom 

 ^iii-ee to four and a half inches in diameter, all rounded, and not 

 l^med of split timber. In order to ascertain their length, M 

 S'iter dug ^up two of them; the longest Pe^etrated four feet 



trough the peat, and ten feei six inches into tbe ancient bed of 

 ^„t«lake; the other, also four feet through the peat, but only fo^ 

 [^etsix inches lower. M. Suter examined the piles carefully^ 

 "^it fruitlessly, to ascertain any manner m which the platform 

 ^a have been 'attached to them. 



