The settlement in the Federsee was reported on by Oberförster
Frank, of Schussenried, in 1876, being the result of systematic
investigations conducted by him during the previous year. (B. 285.) It
was situated in the south-east corner of an extensive tract of peat
which now largely occupies the ancient basin of the Federsee, at a
place about three miles distant from the present small lake, and 380
yards from its ancient or glacial margin. Immediately over the glacial
_débris_ in which this basin is formed there lies a layer of whitish
clay, "Weissergrund," about 15 inches thick, and then follows peat for
a thickness of 10 or 12 feet. The lake-dwelling remains are met with
at a depth of 6½ feet, but it is impossible to form a correct idea
of the extent of the entire settlement, as it is only a portion that
has been exposed. At this depth in the peat wooden platforms are met
with, formed of layers of round or split timbers lying transversely
one above the other, and forming a kind of fascine structure. Between
the wooden layers there is always placed a bed of clay, the number of
which varies from three to eight, so that there is no uniformity in
the thickness represented by these structures.
Inserted through these solid masses of clay and wood, at intervals
of about 2¼ feet, were upright beams, only some of which reached
the Weissergrund. These piles were slender, only about 4 inches in
diameter, and showed no evidence of having either mortises or tenons
by which they could be joined with the horizontal beams.
Relics were found not only on the surface of these fascine structures,
but also in the clay between the successive layers or platforms, and
even underneath the lowest, down as far as the Weissergrund, but
never actually in the latter. Between the lowest layers of woodwork
and the Weissergrund there is sometimes a space of 4 or 5 feet in
which horns, broken bones, and other relics are found; but it is
"above and between the horizontal layers of timbers, and chiefly in
the immediate neighbourhood of the upright piles, that implements of
all kinds are met with--of flint, stone, horn, bone, teeth, and wood;
also earthenware vessels and spoons quite perfect."
In June, 1879, Mr. Frank was fortunate in finding the actual
foundation of a hut, showing the flooring and portions of the side
walls, the dimensions and other particulars of which I will afterwards
discuss.[26]
There was no evidence that this settlement, like so many in
Switzerland, came to an end by means of a conflagration; and, indeed,
the freshness of the upper woodwork and the absence of burnt faggots,
etc., negatived the idea of such a catastrophe.
The antiquities found on these remarkable peat dwellings are supposed
to belong exclusively to the Stone Age, as hitherto no objects of
metal have been found among them (=Figs. 34= and =35=).
_Pottery._--A large quantity of whole and broken dishes are in Mr.
Frank's collection. They are sometimes of a greyish colour, and at
other times black, as if polished with soot or graphite. The paste is
either fine and smooth or mixed with coarse sand, and it is of this
latter quality that the larger vessels are made. Of some 140 specimens
in Mr. Frank's collection the largest is 12 inches high. Both handles
and perforated knobs have been in use. A few fragments of a fine
yellowish paste are highly ornamented (=Fig. 34=, Nos. 17, 24, and
25). The fine black pottery consists of pretty jars, bowls, spoons,
etc., which are often ornamented with a combination of lines, points,
checks, knobs, etc. It is curious that there are no spindle-whorls,
and only one object that can be considered to be a loom-weight.
[Illustration: =Fig. 34.=--SCHUSSENRIED. All ½ real size.]
_Stone._--Flint implements to the number of 40, such as saws,
arrow-points, and scrapers, are well made (Nos. 1 to 8). One
semicircular saw is interesting as being a northern type, which,
however, is not in Mr. Frank's collection, but in the Museum of
Natural History at Stuttgart (No. 20). Of several stone hatchets some
are plain and others perforated and beautifully polished, a few of
which are still in their horn or wooden handles (Nos. 9 to 14 and 19).
(No horn holders with square tops for insertion into wooden handles
are in the collection.) The stone implements are generally made of
granite or serpentine, one only being of jadeite (sp. gr. 3·360). A
small bit of red stone is perforated with three holes, precisely like
similar objects from Robenhausen (=Fig. 24=, Nos. 5 and 6).
[Illustration: =Fig. 35.=--SCHUSSENRIED. All ⅓ real size.]
_Horn and Bone, etc._--- Of horn there are two scoops (=Fig. 35=, No.
6), and some perforated hammers (No. 7), one of which has portion
of the wooden handle in it. There are also spoons of horn, as well
as small bone chisels, daggers, pins, knives, haftings, etc. (=Fig.
34=, Nos. 15 and 16), perforated teeth, and some cutting implements
of boars' teeth. Portion of the handle of a stone celt, still in its
socket, is interesting, as showing a wedge which had been inserted so
as to fix it more thoroughly, just as is done at the present day. A
piece of wood, showing clearly the marks of a stone axe, is preserved
by Mr. Frank in a liquid, as well as various wooden dishes.
_Organic and other Remains._--Bits of rope and coarse matting made of
bast, but no cloth, were found. As regards the latter, it was with
special interest that I was shown a large consolidated mass of a black
material, made of grains of wheat, which most distinctly retained the
impression of a finely woven tissue, evidently that of the sack in
which the grain had been kept. Other curious objects are two lumps of
asphalt, one of which weighs three-quarters of a pound, and a dish
filled with birch-bark in little rolls. Dr. Dom, of Tübingen,[27]
believes that this so-called asphalt was a product of birch-bark, used
by the lake-dwellers when mixed with a black powder for smearing over
their dishes.
The eminent Professor Fraas, of Stuttgart, identified the following
animals among the osseous remains submitted to him, viz. stag, roe,
pig, bear, wolf, fox, lynx, hare, and bison (wild); and the dog, ox,
marsh-pig, and sheep (domestic). It is noteworthy that neither the
horse nor goat is here represented. (B. 303.)
Wheat, found plentifully, was determined by Professor Hegelmaier to be
a large-grained variety of the common species (_Triticum vulgare_).
Among other fruits and seeds were linseed, acorns, beech-nuts,
hazel-nuts, etc. Pine was not among the wood.
In a jar was found a greyish-black powder, which on analysis proved
to be carbonate of lime in combination with a bituminous substance.
Another powder was found to be red oxide of iron.
One small bead, of bright red colour, like coral, finds a place in the
Schussenried Collection; but the following objects are wanting, viz.
clay ring supports, leather, cloth, bread, apples and pears, usually
found in lake-dwellings.
From the facts recorded in Mr. Frank's long article, it would appear
that the settlers at Schussenried commenced their residence before the
girdle of peat, which now covers so largely the ancient bed of the
Federsee, extended very far from the shore assigned to it by the
retiring glaciers; and that since they abandoned their dwellings not
less than 6 or 7 feet of peat have grown over them.