244 
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. 
Dragging the piles to the lake, and fixing them firmly, must 
have required much labour, especially when their number is 
considered. At "Wangen alone M. Lohle has calculated that 
40,000 piles have been used ; but we must remember 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 population 
increased. Herodotus informs us that the Pceonians 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 
common support. In some localities, as at Robenhausen, on 
Lake Pfeffikon, the piles were strengthened by cross beams. 
The pileworks of subsequent periods differ little from those 
of the stone age, except, perhaps, that they are more solidly 
constructed. The piles, also, are less decayed, and project 
above the mud farther than those of the preceding epoch. 
M. Morlot considers that the horizontal platform rested upon 
the top of these piles, at such a height as to allow for all 
ordinary variations in the level of the water. M. Suter, how- 
ever, supposes that in some cases, at least, the platform was 
not attached to the perpendicular piles, but rested upon the 
water, rising and sinking with it. Not only were the debris 
of their repasts, and other rubbish thrown into the water, but 
more or less valuable weapons and instruments must have 
been sometimes lost in this manner, especially as children 
formed, of course, the usual proportion of the population. 
Many of the articles presently to be mentioned^ were, how- 
ever, in all probability, engulphed at the destruction of the 
