Aargau
Beinwil am See: The only Early Bronze Age site known to date on Lake Hallwil still has upstanding architectural components. As it has not yet been examined in detail, it holds great potential for future research.
Seengen: It is because of three Late Bronze Age construction phases that the cultural development of this chronological phase can be traced in this region. The different types of architecture (log construction and post-and-beam construction) are of particular interest.
Berne
Bienne: The site is extremely well covered with layers of sediment. It is one of the best-preserved lakeside dwellings on Lake Bienne and constitutes an important resource for future research. Small interventions have shown occupation phases around 2970/2820 and 2780-2700 BC.
Lüscherz: Besides finds dating from the Late Neolithic and Late Bronze Ages, this site also contains important reference assemblages from the Lüscherz Culture, which was named after the site. Well preserved archaeological layers can be found under modern aggradation and important pile fields can be still found in the lake.
Moossee: The finds recovered during previous excavations show that there are both Late and Final Neolithic settlement remains around the Moossee lake.
Mörigen: The Bronze Age settelement was discovered in 1843. It is inextricably linked to the pioneer pile-dwelling research. More than 1200 ceramic pots and 1400 metal objects are known from Mörigen. The site was never documented with modern standards but it holds a key position fo the understanding of the late Bronze Age of Western Switzerland. It is a world-famous site with great importance from the point of view of research history.
Seedorf: The Lobsigensee lake is of great importance as a reference site outside the large lakes and still contains an impressive stratigraphic sequence. Pioneering work in pollen analysis has provided information about the changes in the landscape of the area.
Sutz-Lattrigen: Because of its dendrochronological dates and its intact archaeological layers the site is invaluable fot the research into the cultural historical processes that took place during the Final Neolithic period and for the subject of the emergence of Corded Ware in Western Switzerland. Due to the fact, that only a very small number of European Corded Ware settlements are known (all located in Switzerland; only burials elsewhere in Europe), these sites are particularly important.
Twann: The train station site marked the beginning of modern pile-dwelling research and is of great importance in relation to research history; it has also yielded important reference assemblages for almost the entire 4th millennium BC. Large parts of the site are still excellently preserved.
Vinelz: The Final Neolithic site in is one of the best-preserved sites around Lake Bienne. The discovery of a wheel from 2750 BC in the low water zone is particularly remarquable. Different long series of dendrodata prove the particularly intensive occupation of this site at the end of the Neolithic period.
Fribourg
Delley: The Portalban sector incorporates a high concentration of pile-dwelling sites covering a long period of time. An intensive and well-preserved settlement phase occurred in the Final Neolithic period and constitutes an important reference site for Western Switzerland.
Gletterens: This site has long been known as the location of settlements dating from the Cortaillod and Horgen Cultures as well as the Late Bronze Age. Remarkable aspects of this site are the discovery of early phases of the western Horgen Culture and the presence of human bone.
Greng: Examined in the 19th century, the Greng sector quickly stood out due to its extraordinarily large number of finds. The excellent preservation of the timber finds also affords the opportunity of studying the architecture of various villages dating from the Late Bronze Age, the Cortaillod Culture and the Final Neolithic period.
Haut-Vully: Various sites at the foot of the Mont Vully, while recognized very early-on, have not yet been fully examined. Their study will be invaluable for the understanding of the occupation of the northern shoreline of Lake Morat. There is evidence of another site in the northeast. Today, it is on dry land, is well preserved and holds great promise for future research. Test trenches recently examined have revealed the existence of a further cultural layer which is still preserved over an area of 13,000 m2 and is quite unusual for the northern shore of Lake Morat.
Morat: This is a Final Neolithic site that has been repeatedly examined since the 19th century. It still contains a number of piles and yields archaeological finds. Further areas of this site may lie preserved beneath modern earth deposits. This is a very rare example of an archaeological site within the town of Morat which has not yet been examined.
Muntilier: The Muntilier sector has an extremely dense concentration of pile-dwelling sites dating from the Cortaillod Culture to the Late Bronze Age. The excellent preservation of wood and other materials (textiles, macrofossils, fibres etc.) and the tight sequence of cultural layers render this site one of the most outstanding in the three-lake region (Lakes Neuchâtel, Morat and Bienne).
Noréaz: This is the only lakeside settlement in Canton Fribourg that lies near a small lake. Preliminary information suggests that the settlement remains are extraordinarily well preserved.
Vernay: This area has yielded features of at leat two sites from the Middle and Final Neolithic. The discovery of several cup-marked stones in the hinterland of this site is a unique feature of this archaeological assemblage. Relatively little is known about two other sites. According to the sources, one dates from the Neolithic and the other from the Bronze Age. Future excavations will enable us to assess their archaeological potential.
Geneva
Collonge-Bellerive : This extended Late Bronze Age site is the best-preserved site on Swiss lakeshores. Earliest series of dendrochronological dates cover felling phases between 998 and 880 BC, associated with at least three very well-preserved strata of archaeological layers.
Corsier : The site shows the longest uninterrupted sequence of occupation on Lake Geneva, ranging from the Middle Neolithic to the Late Bronze Age. The Middle Neoilthic archaeological layer is unique in the entire Geneva region and contains a rich body of pottery finds and organic material.
Versoix : Well-preserved piles and a gravel and plankway make this site one of the most outstanding sites on the shores of Lake Geneva. The density of piles indicates a long sequence of occupation. The dendrochronological analysis of the site will most definitely provide essential information about the late Bronze Age occupation of the region.
Lucerne
Egolzwil: The sites in the Wauwiler Moos area contain several pile-dwelling settlements that count among the earliest ever found and can be examined regarding their interactions with other sites in the region. Another point worth mentioning is the excellent preservation of wood.
Hitzkirch: This site has revealed an extensive stratigraphic sequence with numerous settlements dating from the Neolithic and perhaps also from other periods. They have hardly been examined to date and still hold great scientific potential.
Schenkon: These sites have yielded finds from the Corded Ware Culture among other periods; this culture is rarely found in Central Switzerland and these sites constitute the southernmost limits of its cultural area, which spread over vast parts of Europe.
Sempach: Site with Early Bronze Age finds. This phase is rarely found in Central Switzerland.
Sursee: Three Late Bronze Age phases dating from between 1000 and 800 BC have been found here. The good preservation of the finds is further enhanced by important features such as ground plans of houses and an oven.
Neuchâtel
Auvernier: The archaeological body of evidence from Auvernier is made up of four settlements consisting of numerous layers representing all pile-dwelling periods from the Late Neolithic to the Late Bronze Age. The definition of the ‹Auvernier-Cordé› phase was based on finds from the Final Neolithic horizon discovered here. This site represents one of the biggest archaeological reserve of canton Neuchâtel.
Bevaix: A sequence of four overlying villages dating from the Neolithic period have been observed over a large area southwest of the port. They have already yielded an extensive inventory, but large areas – particularly of the deeper horizons – are still intact. A large pile field on the north of the modern port represents almost the entire period of the Late Bronze Age and is the last site of this kind to be precisely located in the canton Neuchâtel. Its potential for dendrochronology is exceptional and the pebblees on the surface insure an excellent long-term natural protection of the existing piles.
Cortaillod: The assemblage from Petit Cortaillod gave its name to the Late Neolithic culture in Western Switzerland (Cortaillod Culture). Other archaeological layers of the Final Neolithic and the Early Bronze Age have also been identified.
Gorgier: Large preserved field of piles attributed to two settlements from the classic and late phases of the Cortaillod culture. Their dendrochronological study will enable us to reconstruct the entire settlement.
La Tène (Marin-Epagnier): A settlement was discovered here, which was enclosed by palisades on the side facing the hinterland; the course of the palisades was interrupted by a pathway of 110 m in length. A manmade earth mound was located at the centre, two thirds of which have been excavated. A significant part of the site still remains preserved and holds great scientific potential.
Saint-Aubin:The Neolithic settlements on the southwestern flank of the port Saint-Aubin, together with those at Auvernier constitute an important resource for future archaeological research in Canton Neuchâtel. A portion of the artefacts found were used to define the Port-Conty type Cortaillod phase. A recent excavation has revealed evidence of a manmade earth mound, which probably had a religious function similar to that of Marin-Epagnier, which also dates from the Port-Conty phase.
Nidwalden
The Stansstad site is situated under water in a special topographic and geographic location on the immediate periphery of the Alps at a depth of 7 m.
St. Gall
Rapperswil-Jona: A large settlement with distinct ground plans of houses dating from the Corded Ware Culture and the Early Bronze Age is located west of the causeway across the lake. The site gives with 1490 BC a very late date of the pile dwelling period during the «Early» Bronze Age. Another site on the east of the causeway dating from the Early Bronze Age had a system of multiple palisades and is probably related to the construction of bridges over the Lake between Rapperswil and Hurden.
Schaffhausen
Thayngen: This site stands out due to its well-preserved remains of houses. Because several dendrochronologically dated settlements replaced each other within short periods of time, the site allows, together with other sites of this region, to reconstruct the development of Pfyn Culture.
Solothurn
The sites on the Inkwiler- and Burgäschisee lakes bridge a significant gap between the pile dwellings in Eastern and Western Switzerland. Moreover, a ‹wooden sword› from an island in the Inkwilersee is a unique find.
Schwyz
Freienbach: Several bridges have been discovered in the area of the causeway across the lake, the earliest of which dates from the period of the Horgen Culture. One of several settlement phases of a site on the east of the causeway yielded early Corded Ware dates and holds particularly great scientific interest with regard to the question of the genesis and expansion of this culture in Switzerland.
Thurgau
Arbon gave its name to an Early Bronze Age cultural group and yielded an important reference assemblage. Excavations carried out from 1993 to 1995 have revealed that Arbon was also the location of a single-phase settlement with excellent preservation dating from a rarely found period (34th century BC).
Ermatingen: Augering carried out at this as yet little-examined extensive site has provided evidence of a thick sequence of cultural layers and a pile field, all of which hold great scientific potential.
Eschenz: Werd Island is a settlement with several phases on the effluent of Lake Untersee into the River Rhine and an important site from the point of view of research history. The piles still hold great potential for the gathering of dendrochronological dates.
Gachnang/Niederwil: The Egelsee lake is a site with excellent preservation that contains several Pfyn Culture phases, almost all of which are still preserved below ground water level. A sequence of well-preserved house floors on top of each other providese particularly interesting intormation about the architecture of the houses.
Hüttwilen: This site on the Nussbaumersee contains excellently preserved cultural layers of several meters thickness with severeal settlement phases mainly from the Pfyn Culture. Another settlement representing a rarely found period (Late Bronze Age Ha B3 and early Iron Age) is also very well preserved and holds great scientific potential.
Mammern: Augering carried out at this as yet not very well researched site has revealed a thick sequence of cultural layers as well as a pile field with great scientific potential.
Vaud
Bonvillars: This well preserved site has at least two archaeologcial layers. It is well preserved in its natural context, on a small hill. Its situation and preservation make it an exceptional and very representative site.
Chabrey : This huge Final Bronze Age site, preserved in an intact natural environment, shows a very regular architectural organisation, sheltered by a quadrangular system of palisades. The wooden piles, well preserved in the lake, can be put in relationship with an underwater archaeological layer.
Chevroux: Potentially well-preserved site in a rather inaccessible wetland area. Two settlements consist of Bronze Age cultural layers with preserved piles, and another Late Bronze Age settlement was connected to the shore by means of a ‹bridge› of piles. More recent excavations revealed various other phases of occupation dating from the Final Neolithic (Horgen and Lüscherz Cultures, Auvernier-Cordé). They still contain well-preserved remains: piles, pottery, flint and rock artefacts as well as bone.
Corcelles-près-Concise : This bay includes exceptional finds, particularly well studied thanks to prospections and a salvage excavation. The archaeological sequence goes from the Middle Neolithic to the late Bronze Age. The villages show a well preserved architectural organisation.
Cudrefin: This site is located between a bog and the lake, which is a unique location and of particular interest. Thanks to a thick layer of peat, the archaeological finds have been extremely well preserved. One or more plankways have been known since the 20th century.
Faoug: This site has a well-preserved archaeological layer dating from the Late Neolithic, which is covered by a 1.20 m thick layer of humus and sand. Numerous piles arranged in concentric circles hint at an unusual structure and have been interpreted by some as a fish trap. Another site with well-preserved and rich finds is located to the southwest. The settlement existed a long time and probably shifted position within the bay, which opened up towards the southern shoreline of Lake Morat. This site extends over a vast area and will be threatened in the near future by new development.
Grandson: The Late Bronze Age site is renowned for its rich metal finds that are on display in many museums around the world. The field of piles and the archaeological cultural layers are extraordinarily well preserved. Two further sites dating from the Final Neolithic are located east and west of this site.
Morges : The Roseaux site gave the name to the Roseaux culture (Early Bronze Age), referencing to the spatuliform axes and richly orned ceramic cups. It includes the most complete occupational sequence for the Early Bronze Age for the Lemanic Basin and its well preserved archaeological level still contains a great number of archaeological objects. Another complex more on the southwest is particularly well conserved and belongs to two distinct occupation phases. One still contains wooden architectural elements in relation with the Bronze Age occupation level. The other part contains an archaeologcial layer of the Final Neolithic rich in pottery and other organic material.
Mur : It is one of the rare sites of th eLake of Morat which can be dated of the Early Bronze Age. Its conservation on land is exceptional in a zone which has recently been renaturated.
Rolle : It is one of the largest lake dwellings on Lake Geneva of the Late Bronze Age. Its occupation lasted at least 235 years. The situation and concervation of these villages built on a shallow makes it an exceptional site amongst those of Lake Geneva.
Yverdon : This complex of well preserved settlements at the southern end of Lake Neuchâtel is a reference for the reginoal Neolithic period. Furthermore, the particular geographical situation of the site encouraged the development of human occupation between the Middle Neolithic and the Early Bronze Age in this region.
Yvonand: The site is essential for history of the Neolithic population of western Switzerland. On a vast bay, the site dated from the final Neoilthic to the late Bronze Age, currently on dry land, is well preserved.
Zug
Cham: This site contains numerous settlement phases. Two of these yielded Corded Ware artefacts, a period rarely found around Lake Zug. The pile field extends over an area of approximately 5000 m2.
Hünenberg: Innumerable finds have been gathered providing information about stone axe production, which can be associated technologically with the Alpine region. The pile field extends over an area of more than 4000 m2.
Risch: Besides well preserved and distinct features such as house floors, other finds recovered in Oberrisch provide evidence of Copper Age metal processing. This settlement is particularly interesting thanks to several Horgen period construction phases which offer localized insight into its dynamics. Approximately 120 m of the pile field in Buonas have survived. Underwater surveys have revealed that an archaeological layer still exists on the lakebed:
Zug: Relatively large parts of the ‹Sumpf› site have already been examined and have yielded extraordinary finds and features. Moreover, it is located below the groundwater table in a protected area so that this significant research reserve is secure. Another site in the municipal area of the city of Zug has yielded finds from the Corded Ware period, otherwise rarely found in Canton Zug. The Riedmatt site finally is characterized by the excellent preservation of its 60-120 cm thick layers containing innumerable organic finds.
Zurich
Erlenbach: Site with evidence from all periods. Of particular scientific interest are a number of finds from an early phase of the Early Bronze Age and ground plans of houses from the Corded Ware Culture.
Greifensee: A large settlement is located on a steep slope to the south-east. The settlement phase dating from the late Horgen Culture is of particular scientific interest.
Horgen: This site has given its name to the Horgen Culture. Not only did it yield several Horgen period settlement phases, its southern section also contained constructional timbers from the Early and Late Bronze Ages which provided insight into house construction.
Maur: This site has yielded finds characteristic of the Corded Ware Culture as well as artefacts from the Late Bronze Age phase Bz D, which is not usually represented in pile-dwelling sites.
Meilen: Area with rich settlement finds representing many periods, in most cases supported by dendrochronological analyses. In Feldmeilen dendrochronological dates from the transition between the Horgen and Corded Ware Cultures have provided insight into the cultural changes that occurred in these very different cultural groups. Unique among the finds from Lake Zurich is a vessel from the Cham group providing insight into cultural links with the east. The relatively abundant number of human bones found are also remarkable.
Wädenswil: Special pottery from the transition between the Pfyn and Horgen Cultures has been found here. A bell beaker was discovered in the Corded Ware settlement phase, which allows us to draw conclusions about the relationship between the Corded Ware and Bell Beaker Cultures. The latter phase has incidentally yielded hardly any dendrochronological dates. The Early Bronze Age settlement phase has brought to light a special facies, based on which one can study the distribution of a distinct style of pottery.
Wetzikon: The site in the Robenhauser Riet is important from the point of view of research history: in the 19th century, finds from this site were sold all over the world. The organic remains, particularly remnants of textiles, were excellently preserved.
Zurich: The sites in the basin of Lower Lake Zurich represent all the chronological periods with pile dwellings and are of the utmost importance for the understanding of the earliest farmers. The Seefeld area has also yielded evidence of numerous pile-dwelling villages. Several of them existed at the same time and allow us to study neighbourly relations and settlement organizations. A large site with an exceptionally rich assemblage of finds dating from the Late Bronze Age has been discovered in Wollishofen. The latest phase dates from the transition to the Iron Age, which is a period that is not usually very well documented.
