The lake through which the Rhine flows (video). Pile buildings Prehistoric pile dwellings in the vicinity of the Alps
In Switzerland, several sites are included in the list UNESCO World Heritage Site:
Old town of Bern
Founded in the 12th century on a hill, it is located on a peninsula surrounded on three sides by the Aare River. After a devastating fire, the city was completely rebuilt in a unified style. The original wooden buildings were replaced by new sandstone ones, built in the same style with numerous 15th-century arcades and interesting 16th-century fountains. The medieval town was rebuilt in the 18th century but retains its original character.
The Three Castles of Bellinzona
Jungfrau Mountains - Aletsch Glacier
This UNESCO site includes several of the highest (the top of Europe - with neighboring Mönch and Eiger in the surrounding area), as well as the longest glacier in Eurasia ( Aletsch). These spectacular landscapes have played a prominent role both in European art and literature and in the development of tourism in Switzerland.
Tectonic Arena of Sardona in the north-east of Switzerland it covers a mountainous area with several peaks over 3000 m high. This is an exceptional example of the formation of mountains due to the collision of plates, where you can see different tectonic levels, with older layers of rock creeping onto younger ones. This area became key to solving geological questions and building the current scientific concept, playing the most significant role in the history of geology in the 18th century. This is not the only natural example of such formations, but the Swiss Sardona is the most representative and accessible to visit.
Pyramid shaped, covered with forest Mount San Giorgio behind is considered one of the best collections of fossils remaining from marine life from the Triassic period (245 - 230 million years ago). Here traces of life have been preserved in a tropical lagoon, separated from the open sea by a coastal reef. Thanks to this, different types of life flourished in the local lagoon, including reptiles, fish, amphibians, etc. Since the lagoon was located near the shore, traces of insects, insects and plants were also preserved among the fossils.
Prehistoric alpine pile settlements
These include 111 small, isolated remains of prehistoric pile settlements around the Alps, dating from around 5000 to 500 BC. Although only a small number of settlements have been excavated, they contain much useful information about life and trade in the agrarian Neolithic and Bronze Ages of Alpine Europe. 56 such settlements are located in Switzerland.
UNESCO monuments in other countries:
Pile buildings are prehistoric settlements built on platforms supported by pile pillars. Along the shores of alpine lakes and in the wetlands of the Alps, about a thousand such buildings are perfectly preserved. Of the prehistoric pile settlements found in the Alps (Prähistorische Pfahlbauten um die Alpen), 111 sites are included in the UNESCO list. The objects belong to different states of the Alpine region. In Baden-Württemberg […]
Pile buildings are prehistoric settlements built on platforms supported by pile pillars. Along the shores of alpine lakes and in the wetlands of the Alps, about a thousand such buildings are perfectly preserved. From prehistoric pile settlements found in the Alps (Prähistorische Pfahlbauten um die Alpen), 111 objects are included in the UNESCO list.
The objects belong to different states of the Alpine region. In the territory Baden-Württemberg- federal state of Germany - sixteen such buildings were found and three more in Bavaria: on Lake Starnberger See on the island of Roseninsel (Roseninsel im Starnberger See), in Unfriedshausen (Gde. Geltendorf) nördlich des Ammersees) and in Pestenacker (Siedlung Pestenacker) .
The settlements date back to 5000 - 500. BC. The lake and swamp soil has preserved fabrics, wood, and plant remains to this day. Man-made products were found under the silt: wheels and dugout boats made of wood; clay vessels; objects made of amber; gold products.
Pile huts have become a rich source for archaeological research. Based on materials discovered at excavation sites, it is possible to determine the date of construction and reconstruct the sequence of the emergence and growth of settlements. Research made it possible to make discoveries in the field of culture, trade, and agricultural activities of the inhabitants of ancient settlements.
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This UNESCO World Heritage Site includes 111 small individual areas (among 937 known to archaeologists) containing the remains of pile buildings (stilt dwellings). The complex covers 6 countries of alpine and subalpine Europe and consists of the remains of prehistoric settlements dating back to between 5000 and 500 BC. Fifty-six monuments are located in Switzerland.
Due to its location on water, partially underwater and in wetlands, the organic materials enjoyed exceptional storage conditions, which is of great interest for research in the fields of archaeobotany and archaeozoology. By studying organic materials, scientists were able to get an accurate picture of the way of life of early agricultural societies in Alpine Europe: their agriculture, animal husbandry, and metalworking skills.
Thanks to the possibilities of dendrochronology, wooden elements of buildings become invaluable archaeological sources. They allow us to understand the technologies and architectural solutions that were used to build entire prehistoric villages over very long periods of time.
Found fragments of canoes and wooden wheels from two-wheeled carts (dating to around 3400 BC) reconstruct the picture of trade routes through the Alps and nearby plains. Trade in flint, amber, gold, shells and ceramics took place through these ancient routes.
All of the above facts provide insight into the life of about 30 different cultural groups that flourished in their stilt houses among the alpine landscapes.
The complex of prehistoric pile dwellings represents a well-defined geographical area in which they were found and in which all cultural groups lived during the period of the structures' existence. By archaeological standards, the structures are virtually intact and therefore perfectly reflect the diversity of cultural groups, their customs and historical periods. The individual elements of the complex and its general boundaries are remarkable for their integrity. The visual integrity of some of the monuments is explained by the fact that they belong to the same large settlement.
The physical remains are well preserved and documented. The structure of all archaeological layers preserved in the ground or under water is authentic and does not contain any modern inclusions.
The monuments cannot be presented to the public due to the fact that they are mainly hidden under water. In addition, in regions with intensive urbanization, pile settlements are under threat, for this reason open-air exhibition is not yet possible. At the moment, the buildings are partially reconstructed in museums.
General conservation goals are translated into specific projects at the international, national and regional levels. Funding for projects for the Secretariat and participating States is provided by Switzerland. Proposed measures that can have a significant impact on heritage conservation are limited. Given the fragility of the remains and the threat from urban areas, the monument requires monitoring and funding from all 6 participating countries.
In 1854, in Switzerland, on Lake Zurich, settlements were opened, partially standing in the water. Piles were driven into the bottom of the shallow water and platforms were placed on the piles. Sometimes - for each hut separately, sometimes - for the entire settlement. In some settlements, the piles immediately support the roof and form a frame for the walls. In general, several similar technologies.
Quadrangular houses in pile settlements were divided into sections. Each section probably housed a family.
The inhabitants of the pile buildings already had ceramics. They cultivated wheat, barley, millet, peas, lentils, beans, parsnips, carrots, cabbage, and parsley. Later - more spelled and oats.
They had flax and hemp, and they knew how to make clothes from them. Combed flax, threads, and pieces of wicker and woven fabric are found in Switzerland.
The “svainiki” had a dog, a pig, a goat, a sheep, and a cow. In the most recent populations a horse also appears.
The discovery of pile settlements was a major scientific event of that time. It was discussed, and not only in circles of narrow specialists. In D'Hervilly's book about a "prehistoric" boy, the main character goes directly from the caves where they hunt animals of the Ice Age, straight into a pile settlement. D'Hervilly "made" two different eras in his book, but there were pile settlements! Albeit much later than cave life and wild horse hunting.
For scientists, almost the main question was: why were pile structures built at all? It’s a huge job, the purpose of which is not obvious.
Some pile settlements are huge - like Al Penka on Lake Zurich - 40 thousand square meters, 4 hectares. Considering that all this was built with stone tools, the work done was simply incredible.
As usual, there are a lot of assumptions:
- “svainiki” wanted to be closer to the water to fish;
They were very afraid of wild animals;
They worshiped lakes;
They sailed on boats; it was more convenient to tie the boats to the platform than to pull them ashore.
1 D'Hervilly D. Adventures of a prehistoric boy. M, 1966.
There are about a hundred more assumptions of varying degrees of mild and severe insanity. One of the assumptions, far from being the main one, is that the “pillars” tried to protect themselves from enemies.
Indeed: try to climb onto the platform of a pile settlement, even if the platform is located not far from the shore. Once you drag the bridge onto the platform, connecting it to the shore, the space between the shore and the platform turns into a moat. And if the platform is far from the shore, landing troops even from rafts is not so easy. After all, energetic people with spears and stone axes are eagerly awaiting any enemy on the platform.
The appearance of pile settlements suggests that the ancient farmers understood well: they really had something to take. Indeed, the only thing you can steal from a hunter is his reserves of meat - and then only in winter. You can “grab” more reserves of good stone for tools and devour the hunter himself and his family members. Frankly speaking, not much works out.
But the farmer has a lot of things... Stocks of bread, beans, millet... Things that can be carried away and stored for a long time. And at absolutely any time of the year. Yes, and cattle can be stolen. It's one thing to hunt a huge elk or bison. It is quite another to slaughter a domestic cow.
To protect against whom were platforms built on lakes? From other farmers or from hunters roaming around? Most likely, for protection from both. But the farmers of ancient Europe were a newcomer population, not local in their roots. Southerners, brunettes with long arms and legs, skinny and thin. Mediterranean race. The very desire to “disengage” from the outside world, including by settling on the water, is very typical of “non-locals”. Always and for all nations, a lot of time passes before immigrants feel confident in a new land. Child believed that during the “Neolithic Revolution” the population of Europe was completely replaced. Those who did not assimilate into the ranks of the aliens and were not exterminated fled to the almost uninhabitable spaces of the North 1 . This is hardly a fair opinion.
Back in the late 1970s, the German scientist Häusler argued that “in Europe there was a continuous development of culture and population up to the historically attested Indo-European languages and cultures” 2 .
The appearance of the inhabitants of Northern Europe - from the Neolithic to the present time - also speaks in favor of the fact that the population has not completely changed. The same Nordic race. As it arose at the beginning of the settlement of Europe by sapiens, it continues to live to this day. And during the “Neolithic Revolution” she also lived... Not throughout Europe, though. In southern and western Europe, population changes took place. In it, the former Nordic population was either exterminated or quickly assimilated. Indeed, even if hundreds of hunters adopt their type of farming from farmers, there will still be tens of times more aliens than them. The former population will quickly disappear among the newcomers.
But north and east of the Alps the population did not change at all! The beauty of paleogenetics is that it allows you to compare living organisms and any fossil remains of organisms. And establish a relationship between them.
Child G. At the origins of European civilization. M, 1952. "HauslerA. Die Indoeuropaisierung Criechenlands nach Aussage der Grab-und Bestattungssitten // Slovenska archeologia. 1981. XXXX. S. 61.
It turns out: south of the Alps there live people whose ancestors did not live in Paleolithic Europe. Their ancestors sadly (or maybe joyfully? Who cares!) hunted various animals of North Africa and the Near East, collected wild plants... Until the “Neolithic Revolution” made them numerous and powerful.
But to the north of the Alps live those whose ancestors hunted mammoths, painted animals and people on the walls of caves, threw blankets on horses, and turned monochromatic aurochs into spotted livestock.
Then their ancestors fled from the lands flooded by the Flood to the south, developed new ecological zones and gradually lost the achievements of the Paleolithic era.
But they, the inhabitants of Northern Europe, retain a drop of the blood of those who came to Europe from the Near East 35-32 thousand years ago. And those who lived in Europe before them... The blood of the creators of Torralba, Drachenloch, Terra Amata, Monte Circeo...
Neolithic northerners
At the beginning of the IV millennium BC. In Northern Europe, a huge community appears: the culture of funnel-shaped beakers. This culture arises in the same territory where the people of the Maglemose culture lived. Apparently, they were direct descendants of this culture. In the VI-V millennia BC. carriers of the Maglemose culture mastered the rudiments of agriculture and began to raise cows... Not all, but some groups of them, in northern Germany and Denmark.
In the 4th millennium BC. the culture of funnel-shaped beakers flooded vast areas from southern Sweden to the Danube and from Bavaria to Poland, and in the 3rd millennium - to Volyn. The name itself comes from the characteristic shape of one of the vessels - a funnel-shaped goblet with a neck. This culture also has vessels for storing bulk solids and liquids - pot-bellied, with a round or flat bottom.
Hoards of stone axes, polished mop-legs and adzes, microliths inserted into bone sickles prove that this is a Stone Age culture.
Funnel-shaped cups grew the same set of crops as the “svainiki”: peas, lentils, beans, millet, barley, wheat.
In the settlements of funnel-shaped beakers, sheds and rooms for drying bread, barns on stilts, and semi-dugout houses are found. Such houses are very different from structures on stilts. Pile long houses are still for a more southern climate. The houses of the funnel-shaped cups are the dwellings of people rooted in the harsh earth, where there is a real winter with frosts and persistent snows.
The dead were buried in funnel-shaped cups in ground burial grounds, and later - under small mounds. In all the burials there are people of the same Nordic race, which is well known to us.
Northern Europe did not assimilate into the hordes of aliens from the Near East. The Nordic race acted more cunningly: it switched to agriculture and cattle breeding. Without population change, even without mass assimilation. It reached a completely new level of cultural development without sacrificing itself.
Chapter 8 THE BEGINNING OF THE ARIES
The neolithization of Europe gave birth to the Indo-Europeans.
K. Renfrew
According to most serious researchers, the emergence of the ancestral Proto-Indo-European language is associated with the Funnel Beaker culture. Was it the language of one small people, which was also spoken by other peoples of Northern Europe close to it? Was it a language created specifically for communication between people of different cultures and languages? Or the language of one of the tribes, adopted for communication between people of the same community? Scientists debate this. There are many opinions, and they are all well founded.
In any case, it was at the beginning of the 4th millennium BC. This ancient proto-language began to disintegrate and divide into daughter languages. The ancestor language for all Indo-European languages, which are spoken today by more than half of humanity.
Indo-Europeans began to be called that because they found common features between the languages of the inhabitants of India and Europe. We do not know what the Funnel Beaker people called themselves. We know that some of their descendants, who conquered Iran and Northern India, called themselves Aryans, Aryans. There is still debate about what this word means. Either “the best”... Or “free”... Or “the best” and “free” at the same time...
It is not entirely correct to call all Indo-Europeans Aryans, but what can you do? Other words are unknown to us.
The Proto-Indo-European language, the language of funnel-shaped beakers, reflected the realities of agriculture and cattle breeding. Crow-Covid Beakers became farmers and multiplied incredibly: now a lot of people could live in a small area.
Like all farmers, the Aryans soon populated everything they could and developed their ancestral territory. They felt crowded and began to look for new lands to settle. Preferably with a similar climate and natural conditions. Unlike the inhabitants of the Near East, they knew how to live and farm in a temperate climate. In the same IV millennium BC. A prominence burst out of Northern Europe - part of the Indo-Europeans went to the Balkans and the Black Sea region. This “southern group” of Aryans flooded the southern Russian steppes. Perhaps mammoths and woolly rhinoceroses that had not yet been eaten were still living out their lives there... The Aryans passed by them, splitting along the road. Some of them remained in the Balkans and gradually penetrated into Asia Minor. Others flooded the Northern Caucasus, crossed the Caucasus ridge and began to develop the Armenian Highlands and penetrate into the same Asia Minor.
Some of them reached the Southern Urals, and then in several waves flooded Western Siberia to the Yenisei and Kazakhstan.
Others entered Iran, settled it and moved to Northern India. The word Iran itself, by the way, means “country of the Aryans.”
In the 2nd millennium BC. New tribes of Indo-Europeans burst out of Europe. They flooded Eastern Europe, reached Siberia and, together with the first Indo-Europeans of the “southern” group, penetrated all the way to China. To the muddy yellow waters of the Yellow River bend, where the monsoon forests end and the steppe and forest-steppe, familiar to the Aryans and beloved by them, begins. .
In Europe itself, they also did not sit quietly at all. In the 2nd and early 1st millennia BC, Indo-Europeans settled Scandinavia, Western Europe, the Apennine Peninsula, the Balkan Peninsula, Britain and Central Europe. Already in historical times, part of the Aryans conquered the Baltic states and Eastern Europe for the second time - the Balts and Slavs.
This is what the shores of Lake Constance looked like during the Neolithic and Bronze Ages for about 4,000 years, from the fifth millennium to the eighth century BC. e. An exhibition was dedicated to prehistoric pile settlements in this region, which in 2016 was held in two museums in Baden-Württemberg.
Prehistoric pile dwellings
In total, the exhibition featured about 1,200 exhibits from Germany and other European countries. Among them is a wheel disk from the third millennium BC. e., made of ash and maple. The disk was found in the vicinity of the city of Biberach.
Prehistoric pile dwellings
Located on the water, they provided better protection from enemies and wild animals. Traces of almost two dozen such settlements have been found on the territory of Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg. In 2011 they were included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. This photograph was taken in Unteruldingen on Lake Constance, where there is an open-air museum dedicated to them.
Prehistoric pile dwellings
Fragment of a death mask (4200 - 3650 BC) and a reconstruction of the mask, made of red plastic, in the monastery of Bad Schussenried.
Prehistoric pile dwellings
These knives, with flint blades and elderwood handles, were discovered during excavations at the site of a prehistoric pile settlement at Allensbach on Lake Constance. The same knife, only smaller in size, was found with Ötzi, an ice mummy of a Copper-Stone Age man discovered in 1991 in the Ötztal Alps in Tyrol.
Prehistoric pile dwellings
This pile settlement, similar to a castle, arose around 1766 BC. e. in a marshy area near Lake Federsee in the Biberach region.
Prehistoric pile dwellings
Ceramic vessels with breast-shaped appliqués (4000 - 3750 BC). The exact location of the discovery is unknown, but presumably Lake Constance.