In 1870 Professor Leopoldi Maggi described the remains of a palafitte
found in "un bacino torboso" between Santa Maria di Cuveglio and
Cavona. (B. 187.) This basin lies among glacial _débris_, and was
formerly a small lake, but in modern times it became entirely filled
up with peat. On the surface there was a layer of vegetable soil 10
inches thick, then spongy peat to the depth of 3 feet, and then a
layer of more solid peat about 1 foot 8 inches thick. Underneath
these layers was a blackish muddy deposit, extending to an unknown
depth, into which the piles were inserted. These piles were from 5 to
10 feet long, and 8 to 10 inches in diameter. They were closely set,
and along with them were several beams lying horizontally. The relics
consisted of pottery, knives of bronze and iron, charcoal, etc., all
of which were dispersed.