The small lake of Pfäffikon, which lies to the east of Lake Zürich,
contained two settlements, viz. Robenhausen and Irgenhausen.
ROBENHAUSEN.--This well-known station, which has furnished specimens
of lake-dwelling remains to most of the European museums, is situated
near the middle of an extensive tract of pasture-land on the south
side of the lake. Although its site is now several hundred yards from
the lake, there can be no doubt that, originally, it was completely
surrounded by water; the nearest land, that on the west, being some
2,000 yards distant. On the east side the old lake-shore is 3,000
yards distant, and towards this, notwithstanding its greater distance,
there extended a gangway, the remains of which can still be traced.
Underneath the grass there is a thick deposit of peat, which has been
utilised as fuel according to the needs of the surrounding community;
and a mere glance at the locality shows that the whole expanse is
but an encroachment of the peat on what was formerly part of the
lake. The meadow belongs to peasant proprietors, among whom it is
parcelled into small plots. During the winter of 1857-8 Mr. Jacob
Messikommer, the owner of one of these plots, discovered the remains
of a pile-dwelling on his portion, and to its investigation he has
ever since devoted himself. His efforts were greatly encouraged by
Dr. Keller and other members of the Antiquarian Society at Zürich,
to whose museum many of the principal relics have been sent. A few
years after its discovery, the project of deepening and widening the
outlet, which, as it so happened, passed through the lake-dwelling,
afforded a splendid opportunity to archæologists for investigating its
antiquarian remains. Messikommer was appointed superintendent of the
proposed excavations. Since then he has on several occasions when the
waters were low, as in the years 1864, 1865, 1870, 1875, 1882, 1884,
and 1886, made more or less extensive diggings in different parts of
the settlement for the purpose of clearing up obscure or disputed
points. Altogether he has made good use of his advantages, and to his
intelligent and watchful care we are indebted for a careful record of
the relics, as well as a series of shrewd observations bearing on the
character and duration of this settlement, which has made it one of
the most instructive in the whole range of lacustrine research.
The space occupied by the settlement formed an irregular quadrangle,
little short of three acres in extent. The piles were made from
the round or split stems of trees--oak, beech, and pine being the
prevailing kinds. On the supposition that they were placed at uniform
distances throughout, Messikommer calculates from the data supplied by
the Aabach Canal, which involved an area of about 4,000 square feet,
that 100,000 piles were required for the construction of the entire
lake-village.
In order to get at the relics, one has to dig through 5 or 6 feet of
peat, in which no relics are found, with the exception of the piles,
the tops of which nearly reach to the surface. Such pits are soon
filled with water, as all the relic-beds are below the level of the
lake.
As the excavations progressed, Messikommer made the important
observation that the piles could be distinguished into three sets,
corresponding with so many relic-beds.
The first set of piles penetrated into the shell marl some 10 or
11 feet below the present surface; and immediately over this marl
there was a bed of greasy peat only 4 or 5 inches thick containing a
few relics. Then followed a bed of charcoal with carbonised wheat,
barley, cloth, etc., the result, according to our investigator,
of a general conflagration which destroyed the entire settlement.
After this catastrophe a new superstructure was reared, the piles of
which were so closely set that, on an average three or four could
be counted in each square foot. This new village appears to have
flourished for a long time, as its duration is represented by a peaty
deposit nearly 3 feet thick containing a variety of relics, as bones,
pottery, portions of clay flooring, etc. Then followed a second bed
of burnt materials, as corn, fruits, bread, and the usual industrial
implements of stone--all of which point to a second conflagration.
But, apparently undiscouraged, the lake-dwellers again undertook the
task of reconstructing their peculiar dwellings, and Messikommer
distinguishes this third series of piles by their not penetrating so
deeply as those of the previous habitations. While the piles of the
earlier dwellings penetrated into the shell marl, those of the third
structure fell short of the former by 2½ feet and terminated in the
intervening accumulated _débris_. On the other hand, however, their
tops reached higher in the peat, coming nearly to the present surface.
Further, he observed that it was only in the third settlement that
the piles were split, those of the two former being round and much
more decayed. Also, corresponding to its duration, there was a deposit
of peat 3 feet in depth containing various relics, but no evidence
of a conflagration, and above this point the peat was entirely
destitute of the remains of human industry. It would thus appear
that the lake-dwellers voluntarily abandoned their village, either
on account of the accumulation of peat or because, in the exigencies
of civilisation, they found more congenial conditions of habitation
elsewhere.
During the excavations in the Aabach canal the above facts were amply
demonstrated, as, indeed, they can be at the present time by any one
who chooses to make the necessary excavations, permission for which
the proprietor freely gives.
From the peculiar grouping and distribution of the relics over certain
areas Mr. Messikommer came to the conclusion that while each cottage
had its special appliances, as a hearth, a millstone, sharpening
stones, and weaving materials, there were other relics specially
localised. Thus there were large quantities of corn in one place,
dried fruits in another, flax in a third, etc. He also learned to
recognise from the kind of litter used, and the droppings of the
animals, where the stalls for cattle, sheep, and goats were located;
which, according to him, were in the intervals between the cottages.
Bones, scales of fish, dried fruits, water-chestnuts, beech and
hazel-nuts, acorns, and other remains of food, were very abundantly
met with. The following are some of the more interesting relics from
this vast deposit of the industrial remains of many ages:--
_Wooden Objects._--A bow of yew, five feet long, still retaining the
notch at both ends for the string; another specimen measures only 3½
feet in length. A large tub-like dish, nearly 16 inches in diameter,
and a variety of ladles. A yoke for cattle, made of a hazel branch. A
large door of wood, so arranged as to turn on a pivot, and measuring
4 feet 9 inches by 2½ feet wide, and 1½ inch thick; a canoe 12
feet long, 2½ feet wide, and 5 inches deep; a large assortment
of handles, knives (=Fig. 24=, No. 15), clubs (No. 26), dishes,
suspension hooks, etc.
_Horn and Bone._--Haftings for stone axes and chisels (Nos. 8 and 9),
daggers, chisels, perforated axe-hammers (No. 12), arrow-points (No.
2), agricultural implements, small cup (No. 7), etc.
_Stone._--Axes of nephrite are scarce, but they are abundant of the
ordinary materials (No. 23)--some are perforated; flint saws in their
handles, hammer-stones (No. 10), pendants (No. 3), a stone disc
polished and perforated in the centre with a round hole (No. 13),
arrow-points and scrapers of flint (No. 1), two small objects of
redstone perforated with a series of holes (Nos. 5 and 6).
_Pottery._--Earthenware cups, spoons, and various kinds of vessels
(Nos. 14, 16, 17, and 18). Particularly noteworthy is one with a
conical base requiring a ring-support (No. 18). Several coarse
crucibles with handles (No. 22). When the first of these objects
was discovered, it was supposed to be a large spoon, but latterly
traces of copper were found in the pores of one, and thus their true
nature was recognised. These crucibles were found a few years after
the discovery of the lake-dwelling, and although Messikommer was
constantly on the look-out for metal objects it was not till 1882 that
his search was rewarded. This was a small copper celt of the flat type
(No. 4), but as it was in stuff thrown out of the trenches for some
time, it was impossible to say to which settlement it belonged. (B.
383, p. 324.) In 1884 Messikommer announced that a crucible which had
evidently been used was found in the stratum of _débris_ corresponding
with the second settlement at Robenhausen.[21]
On the 4th of October, 1887 (B. 454), Mr. H. Messikommer, while making
excavations in an undisturbed part of this lake-dwelling, found near
the surface of the peat, and on a level with the tops of the piles,
another hatchet of the flat type made of bronze (No. 11). It is clear
from these respective finds that the Robenhausen lake-dwelling came to
an end before bronze came into general use.
[Illustration: =Fig. 24.=--ROBENHAUSEN. Nos. 12 to 14, 16 to 22, and
24 = ¼, 23 = ⅛, 26 = 1/10, and the rest = ½ real size.]
_Weaving Materials._--A great many specimens of flax, yarn ropes,
balls of thread, bits of ribbon, and variously-woven cloths, fishing
and hair nets,[22] plaited borders, fringes, and mats (=Fig. 25=).
Loom-weights (=Fig. 24=, Nos. 20 and 21) and clay pirns were also met
with, but, singularly enough, hardly any spindle-whorls. It is not
very clear in what position these recorded relics have been found;
but in 1882, when the water happened to be very low, the lowest
relic-bed was carefully searched, and similar remains were found in
it. In consequence of these finds, Messikommer announced, in 1882
(B. 383a, p. 379), that he was convinced that all manner of weaving
was thoroughly known at the very commencement of the Robenhausen
lake-dwelling.
The third settlement has yielded very little cloth or thread, probably
owing to the fact that no conflagration took place, by the charring
of which such remains are preserved from decomposition. On the other
hand, jade implements, among which is an arrow-head of nephrite, and
some 60 seeds, and fruits, have been collected. Among the latter the
water-chestnut (_Trapa natans_) may be especially noted, as it no
longer grows in the locality. (B. 462.)
IRGENHAUSEN.--Only one other settlement has been recognised as a
true lake-dwelling in this lake-basin, viz. Irgenhausen, situated
about half an hour's walk to the east of Robenhausen. The station ran
parallel to the shore for a distance of about 300 feet, with a breadth
of only 30 feet. The relics found on it are similar in character to
those from Robenhausen, the most remarkable of which are specimens of
embroidered cloth and checked muslins. (B. 126, Pl. xvi. Fig. 2 and
2a.) Messikommer believes that only one row of cottages occupied this
site. Almost the whole site of this lake-dwelling has disappeared
into the depths since 1881, and can no longer be found.[23] Only a
yawning deep (_eine gähnende Tiefe_) is now to be seen where formerly
stood the remains of the Pfahlbau. This phenomenon is, however, not
singular in the Swiss lakes, as evidence of which we have the recent
catastrophe in Lake Zug, which demolished not only the site of a
prehistoric lake-dwelling, but also a large part of the town of Zug.
[Illustration: =Fig. 25.=--ROBENHAUSEN. All ⅔ real size.]
Close to the water's edge on the south shore, and about ten minutes'
walk directly north of Robenhausen, there is an artificial mound
called Himmereich, which formerly was supposed to be the site of a
pile-dwelling. It is constructed of small and large stones, among
which flint saws, arrow-points, and pottery of the lake-dwelling
type, were found associated with Roman tiles and pottery (_terra
sigillata_). There were, however, no piles or any evidence of
structural dwellings, and the opinion now generally held in regard to
it is that it was a pre-Roman Refugium, which subsequently fell into
the hands of the Romans.[24] Remains of a Roman station are also close
to Irgenhausen, which might have something to do with the Himmereich
mound. (B. 462.)
The records of the numerous discoveries made at Robenhausen from time
to time, according to the favourableness of the weather, are, like
the relics themselves, widely scattered. In addition to the reports
of Keller and J. Messikommer (B. 22, 34, 40, 61, 126, 336, and 462)
in the proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Zürich, we have
a number of further notices in various journals, such as _Anzeiger_,
_Antiqua_, _Das Ausland_, etc. (B. 143a and 143b, 154, 256, 383, 385a
and 385b, 402, 403, 406c and 406d, 434c, 449b, 454b, etc.), from which
more or less important information is to be gleaned.