Traces of Bronze Age Village Discovered in Switzerland

[Judi Lynn]

4. 3,000-year-old sunken settlement discovered beneath Lake Lucerne

Archaeologists have discovered a 3,000-year-old Bronze Age settlement beneath Lake Lucerne near the city of Lucerne in central Switzerland.

On behalf of the Canton Archaeology of Lucerne, a team of underwater archaeologists from the Office for Urban Development of the City of Zurich made the discovery whilst supporting dredging works in preparation for the construction of a pipeline.

Lake Lucerne is a 114 km² freshwater lake that reaches depths of up to 434 metres. During the 15th century, the Krienbach River carried large amounts of rubble and debris towards the River Reuss restricting the lake outflow.

In combination with more recent human activity, the lake’s water level has risen by around 5 metres and submerged any archaeological remains on the shallow lake basin.

To date, there has been no previous evidence of submerged settlements within the Lake Lucerne area, as the lakebed consists of thick layers of deposited mud that can only be investigated during larger construction projects.

More:
https://www.heritagedaily.com/2021/04/3000-year-old-sunken-settlement-discovered-beneath-lake-lucerne/138796