STATION DE CULLY.--Some piles to the east of the town, but in water
from 10 to 13 feet deep. Only a few isolated objects of stone and
bronze have been recorded.
STATION DE LA PIERRE DE COUR.--Near Lausanne, at a large erratic block
known to bathers as Pierre de Cour, there are a few rows of piles in
a depth of 13 feet, and at a distance of nearly 300 yards from the
shore. A hair-pin and two small bits of bronze are the only relics
recorded.
STATION DU FLON (VIDY).--A number of discoidal stones with marginal
grooves, and some stone rubbers and polishers, are recorded from this
station. (B. 22.)
STATION DE LA VENOGE.--To the east of the embouchure of the river,
near St. Sulpice, and greatly covered by detritus.
MORGES.--Four stations, already noticed.
FRAI D'AÏGUE.--In the gulf of Frai d'Aïgue, a little to the north of
St. Prex, are three stations--viz. De Terreneuve, De Monnivert, and
De Frai d'Aïgue--extending over a length of one kilomètre. They all
belonged to the Stone Age, and represent probably parts of one and the
same village. Mr. Colomb has collected more than 200 stone celts in
various grades of manufacture in a space of 150 square mètres. From
the same station there are in the Museum of Lausanne some 40 stone
celts, a few flint flakes and knives, and a spindle-whorl.
ST. PREX.--In the gulf to the south of St. Prex there is a station of
the Bronze Age, the piles of which are to be seen in a depth of 10 or
11 feet of water. The station has yielded a considerable number of
relics, some of which are deposited in the Lausanne Museum, viz. a
flat bronze celt (=Fig. 17=. No. 12), clay support-ring, portions of
clay crescents, seven stone celts, three or four fragments of pottery
ornamented with curved lines and cable pattern (one fragment of black
pottery is ornamented with tin strips), a bronze pin with spherical
head, a large block for sharpening tools. The other bronzes known from
the station are four knives, one bracelet, five rings, and 11 pins.
ROLLE.--Situated opposite this town there appears to have been a
lacustrine village of considerable size, which has yielded objects
characteristic of both the Stone and Bronze Ages. Part of the area
occupied with piles has been covered over by an artificial island,
now bearing a monumental _obélisque_. Fragments of pottery of the
same character as those from Morges, discoidal stones, hammer and
sharpening stones, were among the relics.
Dr. Forel enumerates the bronze relics from this station as
follows:--Two winged hatchets, one chisel, one lance, two knives, one
sickle (now in the Lausanne Museum), one bracelet, 15 rings, and nine
hair-pins. (B. 462.)
To the south of this is the _Station de Beaulieu_, of considerable
extent, but poor in relics, only some 10 bronze objects having been
found on it. (_Ibid._)
STATION DU CHÂTAIGNIER.--A small Stone Age station before the village
of Dully. (_Ibid._)
STATION DU CREUX DE LA DULLIVE.--A great circular station of the
Bronze Age, on which two winged celts, two bracelets, and a few rings
and hair-pins have been collected. (_Ibid._)
NYON.--According to Dr. Forel (B. 286), there are two stations in
the bay of Nyon--one at Promenthoux (Stone Age), to the right of the
embouchure of the river; and the other (Bronze Age) to the north
of the town of Nyon. Mr. A. Revilliod found on the latter station
a remarkable object, consisting of 300 rings of bronze, from 7 to
8 inches in diameter, which became adherent to each other by a
concretionary deposit from the lake. The total number of bronze relics
from Nyon is 62, thus relegated:--Seven winged celts, one chisel, one
lance-head, 10 knives, two sickles, 15 bracelets, 23 hair-pins, and
three undefined objects.
We now enter the lower portion of the lake, where its breadth becomes
suddenly contracted from 8 to 3 miles; and here it would appear that
the lake-dwellers had thickly planted their peculiar villages on both
sides of the lake. Along the shore, from Nyon downwards to where the
Rhone makes its exit, and then up on the other side to the opposite
point of Ivoire, Dr. Forel (B. 462) enumerates no less than 22
stations, in the following order:--
STATION DE CÉLIGNY.--Just before the landing-pier. Bronze Age.
STATION DE COPPET.--Discovered in 1874 by M. Magnin. Bronze Age.
STATION DE MIES.--Discovered in 1877, opposite the Château des
Crenées. Bronze Age.
STATION DE VERSOIX.--A great station near the landing-pier. Bronze
Age. Hatchets and knives of iron are said to have been found on this
station.
STATION DE BELLEVUE.--Discovered in 1880, to the north of
landing-pier. Bronze and Stone Ages.
STATION DES PÂQUIS.--Extends southwards from the jetty of the new
port. Stone Age.
STATION DES EAUX-VIVES.--Outside the port, along the suburb of this
name. Stone Age.
CITÉ DE GENÈVE.--A vast station occupying the present port. Bronze Age.
STATION DE PLONGEON.--At the northern end of the Station des
Eaux-Vives, in a contracted spot, Dr. Gosse has found some 30 objects
of iron, some of which resemble those of La Tène.
The last four are generally known as the Stations of Geneva, so that
the lower extremity of the lake must have been actually studded with
settlements. At the foot of the largest of the two well-known and
superstitiously-revered boulders called Pierres à Niton were found,
about the middle of last century, a knife (=Fig. 18=, No. 5) and a
celt of bronze of the flat type, which are still preserved in the
Museum of the town. Near this was the Bronze Age station called by
Dr. Forel "Cité de Genève," but sometimes described as the Station
des Eaux-Vives. It would appear that there are two stations described
under the latter name--one of the Stone Age, about 100 yards nearer
the shore; and the other of the Bronze Age ("Cité de Genève").
The Cité de Genève is now the richest bronze station hitherto
investigated in the Lake of Geneva. It occupied a horseshoe-shaped
area, filling the entire space presently forming the port, and even
sent a prolongation down to Rousseau's island. Dr. Forel estimates
the number of bronze objects collected here at 1,500, being rather
more than the total number from all the other stations in the Lake of
Geneva.
At its northern extremity, next the Station des Eaux-Vives, Dr. Gosse
came upon what must have been the site of a foundry. Here, in a
confined space not exceeding 100 square yards, he fished up no less
than 50 stone moulds, crucibles, ingots of bronze and tin, scoriæ, and
other materials of the founder's art. (B. 462.)
Most of the objects of general interest from this station have been
deposited in the Archæological Museum. Dr. Forel classifies those
of bronze as follows:--25 winged hatchets, 19 socketed hatchets,
four flat hatchets, seven chisels and gouges, four swords, seven
lance-heads, 72 knives, 22 sickles, 75 bracelets, 230 rings, 1,000
hair-pins, and 60 diverse objects. In looking over this collection I
made the following notes:--The socketed celts have the loop generally
at right angles to the cutting edge. The knives are both socketed and
tanged. Bracelets show a great variety of forms, but the solid ones
predominate. Sickles have more frequently a raised button. The ceramic
art shows the usual Bronze Age decoration of triangles, and the paste
is of two qualities. Clay ring-supports, spindle-whorls, discoidal
stones, etc., are very abundant. Among the odds and ends are to be
noted pins with large perforated heads, fish-hooks, buttons, a large
plaque with repoussé work of slightly-raised bosses, a rude image like
a stag of bronze, a variety of pendants, small tin wheel-like objects
in concentric circles, etc. A few of these objects are represented on
=Fig. 18=, all of which, except Nos. 9, 10, 12, and 13, are from this
station and deposited in the Museum at Geneva.
STATION DE LA BELOTTE.--A large station, rich in Stone Age relics. A
couple of bracelets and a few rings and hair-pins of bronze, in all 21
objects, are among the treasures from this settlement, which comprise
no less than 1,400 stone celts.
STATION DE LA POINTE DE LA BISE.--Immediately to the north of La
Belotte there is another station, said to be one of the transition
period, owing to its having supplied a couple of flat axes. The only
other metal objects are a few rings and hair-pins.
STATION DE BELLERIVE.--A large station yielding objects both of the
Stone and Bronze Ages.
GABIULE.--Before the steamboat landing-stage are two stations--one of
the Stone Age; and another, in deeper water, of the Bronze Age.
STATION D'ANIÈRE (BASSY).--A small Bronze Age station in deep water.
We next come to a group of four stations, all within a compass of two
miles, which are sometimes confounded with one another, and described
as "Les Stations de Tougues." One is near Hermance, and is known as
the Station de la Vie à l'Ane or du Moulin; a second is vis-à-vis de
la Fabrique Canton; a third is opposite the Château Beauregard; and
a fourth, Creux de Tougues, lies before the village of Chens. These
settlements were all parallel to the shore, and their remains are in
deep water. Their relics are of a mixed character, and would indicate
that, while founded in the Stone Age, they subsisted during that of
Bronze.
[Illustration: =Fig. 18.=--GENEVA AND TOUGUES (9, 10, 12, and 13).
Nos. 6, 12, and 13 = ¼, the rest = ½ real size.]
The station at Creux de Tougues is the most important of the group,
and it has furnished a large number of antiquities. It is about 130
yards from the shore, in a depth of water varying from 5 to 10 feet.
Ordinary stone celts, 27 of which have been collected (B. 462), were
found on the part next the shore. The collection of bronze objects
consists of:--Four winged celts (=Fig. 18=, No. 10), one flat celt,
two socketed chisels, one sword, one lance-head, 21 knives, five
sickles (No. 9), 14 bracelets, 120 rings, 170 hair-pins, and six
diverse objects. Pottery from this station (Nos. 12 and 13) comes
largely to the front, and in the Museum of Geneva there are fine
specimens of plates, cups, vases, and other vessels of a fine black
ware which, both in form and ornamentation, resemble those from
the palafittes of Lake Bourget and others of the Bronze Age in
Switzerland. Spindle-whorls, discoidal stones with a marginal groove,
rubbing stones, etc., are also abundant. A peculiarly-shaped stone
object known as "gorge de poulies" comes here to be noted. (B. 31, 281
and 462.)
MESSERY.--Piles are here seen projecting above the mud 2 to 5 feet,
in a depth of about 12 feet of water. One of the piles pulled up by
Troyon showed markings of a metal tool. Numerous fragments of pottery
characteristic of the Bronze Age have been found, but only two objects
of this metal, viz. a winged celt and a sickle.
NERNIER.--Two stations are described in the vicinity of the village
of this name. One, near the shore, and partly covered up with gravel,
belonged to the Stone Age. Here Troyon observed some large piles
in a depth of 6 feet of water, and others he found on the shore
buried in the gravel. Among the objects collected are flint flakes,
spindle-whorls, hatchets of serpentine (a perforated one is in the
Museum of Annecy), some worked bones, etc.
The Bronze Age station is 600 yards to the west of the village, and
150 from the shore. The relics consist of pottery, spindle-whorls,
ring-supports, etc. Among the bronze objects are:--Eight winged celts,
two chisels, one sword, two lance-heads, three knives, three sickles,
five bracelets, three rings, and five hair-pins. Among the rings is
included a pendeloque, in the form of a large hollow ring, attached to
which is a small ring for suspension.
STATIONS D'EXCENEVREZ ET DE COUDRÉ.--In rounding the point of Ivoire
we come to a sheltered bay, into which a couple of streams discharge
their waters, carrying down a considerable amount of _débris_, so
that the lake-dwelling remains are here deeply buried. Traces of two
stations have, however, been observed, one, station De Moulin-Pâquis,
near Excenevrex, and the other, De Coudré, opposite Château
Bartholoni, not far from the village of Sciex. Both appear to belong
to the Stone Age, and in the latter, in 1874, 12 stone hatchets were
found.
THONON.--There were two separate settlements at Thonon. One (Stone
Age), about 20 yards from the shore, was discovered in 1862, when the
new port was being formed. The objects there collected were piles,
flint implements, stone hatchets, spindle-whorls, and some coarse
pottery.
The Bronze Age station was considerably in advance of the former,
and in a depth of 3 to 4 yards. The settlement was extensive, and
ran parallel to the shore, and from its remains a large assortment
of relics has been collected. Being among the earliest discovered in
the Lake of Geneva, it has been industriously searched by a number of
well-known archæologists, as Troyon, Forel, Revon, Monod, Revilliod,
Carrard, etc., and consequently its treasures are widely distributed.
The bronze objects, according to Dr. Forel (B. 462), amount to 48,
viz. 11 winged celts, two lance-heads, six knives, two sickles, 14
bracelets, two rings, five hair-pins, and six diverse objects. One
of the knives, which is finely ornamented and one foot in length,
has the peculiarity that the handle contains less tin than the blade
(=Fig. 17=, No. 16). Another knife was adapted for side-plates to
be riveted on its handle (No. 11); while others were socketed and
tanged (Nos. 17 and 18). Some of the hatchets have a side loop, and
others are devoid of it. Among other things are a large ring, _armilla
sacra_ (Carrard), (No. 2); a pendant of three involved rings, together
with various other pendants (No. 9). Among the pottery are fragments
with perforated knobs, herring-bone pattern (No. 1), etc.; and some
charming vases, clay ring-supports, etc.
There are thus, according to Dr. Forel, 11 stations of the Stone Age;
three of the period of transition (_i.e._ with hatchets of bronze of
the flat type), six with mixed objects, 19 of the Bronze Age, and one
(Station de Plongeon) which furnished objects characteristic of the
early Iron Age.
These notes have been collected from a fragmentary and
widely-scattered literature, including the following original
sources:--B. 22, 31, 34, 40, 121, 126, 138, 152, 280, 282, 286, 315,
377, and 462.