In 1806 this lake was lowered to the extent of 6 or 8 feet, and
on the shore thus exposed a number of piles became visible, among
which it was reported that there were Celtic weapons, hair-pins,
and other implements found. "Keltische Waffen, die in vii Bande des
Geschichtsfreundes beschreiben sind, Nadeln und andere Gegenstände."
(B. 15, p. 99.) But these notices and relics of a past civilisation
attracted little attention at the time, and it was only in the light
of Keller's discovery of lake-dwellings that the recollection of the
find at Sempach was revived and properly interpreted. Colonel Schwab
in his lacustrine peregrinations extended his researches also to Lake
Sempach, and identified seven or eight stations along its shores,
most of which were then on dry land. These settlements were situated
near the following places:--Eich, Schenken, Inselchen, Mariazell,
Margarethen, and Nottwyl: and in all of them some antiquities either
of stone or bronze were collected. (B. 61.)
At the north end, near the site of the lake-dwelling at Mariazell,
but about 20 feet from the water and a foot underground, there was
a remarkable bronze hoard found. (B. 126.) At a short distance from
this there was a human skull disinterred, and along with it a hair-pin
and a bronze gouge; but whether or not these objects belonged to the
lake-dwellers it is impossible to say. Most of the lake-dwelling
remains from the Sempachersee are deposited in the Museum of Lucerne,
among which I have noted the following:--One or two discoidal stones;
a few clay cylinders with everted edges; whorls of various forms and
sizes, some ornamented with lines and pitted impressions; pottery
ornamented with lines and triangles, finger-marks, etc.; and four
beautifully-worked stone axes (=Fig. 15=, Nos. 8, 9, and 10). The
bronze find from Maria Zellermoos includes seven winged and two flat
celts, a chisel, two knives, one dagger with six rivets, four sickles
(one with back spur), and 13 flat bracelets. Some Roman keys, buckles,
a few yellow beads of glass (one of amber), etc., are mixed with this
find. Specimens of these bronze implements are given on =Fig. 15=,
Nos. 1 to 7, and 11.
[Illustration: =Fig. 15=,--SEMPACHERSEE. All ½ real size.]