LAKE DWELLINGS, huts, or houses, built upon piles sunk in the beds of lakes, and which are found in central Africa and in the islands of the Indian archipelago. Remains of settlements of this character have been discovered beneath the waters of the lakes of Switzerland, Italy, and other countries of Europe, and in Asia, apparently disclosing a period of antiquity extending back to prehistoric times. Accordingly the term has come to be employed particularly in regard to prehistoric remains of this class of habitation, and its use is almost always with this significance. The first discovery of lake dwellings was made in 1829, at Ober-Meilen, on the lake of Zurich; and this, in spite of the fact that legends suggestive of the existence of such remains had been prevalent in Switzerland, and in parts of France—notably at Voiron, department of Isi:re —for centuries. The Zurich discovery consisted of remains of piles and certain antiqui ties; but though curiosity was aroused concerning the finding of these at the bottom of the lake, it was not until 1853-54 that any investigation was made. The occurrence of a season when the waters of the lake fell unusually, facilitated examination, and it was found that two distinct beds existed. The first of these was from 1 to 2 ft. in thick ness, and consisted of yellowish mud, containing quantities of rounded pebbles. The second bed was from 2 to 21- ft, thick, consisting of sandy loam, colored black by decayed organic matter. In this latter bed were found piles and a large variety of antiquities of different kinds. The piles were of oak, beech, birch, and fir, and were from 4 to G in. thick. They showed evidence of having been formed partly by the action of fire, which, had been used in some instances to sharpen the ends which were imbedded. There were also marks of the clumsy tools of the period, whose slow and imperfect action had been hastened by means of the application of fire. Here were also found tools and implements of stone, bone, and horn; and bones of the stag, wild goat, wild boar, fox, cow, sheep, and dog. There were stone cells, or hatchets, made in the form of a wedge, and varying in length between 1 and 8 in., and in weight between + oz. and 1 lb. Some of these were made from a kind of stone which does not now exist in the vicinity of the district where they were found.' Some were of syenite, others of black sandstone, and some of jade; the latter not being found in Europe, but which has been employed by the Maoris of New Zealand in the construction of hatch ets. In the Zurich specimens they were found set in a hafting of stags' horn, and in
wood handles. There were also discovered examples of pottery; stones which had been formed for use as net-weights, etc. In 1865-66 investieations at Voiron, already alluded to, resulted in the discovery of the remains of lake dwellings, where were found also bones, implements, and pottery, some of the latter resembling that of the Roman period. These dwellings were erected on piles, tenoned and mortised, and with door posts and window-frames. There were also iron weapons and utensils; awls, gimlets, cramps, chisels, and knife-blades; and even keys, fish-hooks, -and horse-shoes; a leaden bracelet, blue jewelers' paste, and other extraordinary evidences of an advanced degree of civilization, and even luxury. In Italy, from the extreme north to the shores of the Adriatic, these lacustrine remains have been brought to light; while similar instances have been found in Scotland and in n. Wales. They have also been discovered on the -borders of Asiatic Turkey and Russia, in the Grocktseha, or Lewanza-iake, between the Araxes, Kura, and Euphrates rivers. The Irish crannogcs, artificial fortified islands, partake of the same characteristics, and are found in certain of the Irish lakes; they are attributed to the 9th and 10th centuries. Among the lacustrine remains found in different parts of Europe have been discovered relics of the stone, iron, and bronze ages. :Vet, as it is certain that these so-called "ages" occurred at different periods in different parts of the world, we have not, in consequence of this tact, any reliable data as to the precise antiquity of such relics. Herodotus (450 n.c.) described the Preonians as living on platforms in lake Prasias. The fact that dwellings of this character are found to the present day among certain savage races, and that implements, ornaments, and uten sils have preserved general characteristics wherever found, or of whatever period, are circumstances which are to be taken into grave consideration in attributing a specific antiquity to the Swiss and Italian lacustrine remains. The instinct of self-preservidion from wild beasts, and the unknown or imaginary terrors of a gloomy forest country, would be suggestive to any savage race at any period of the advantages of lake-dwell ings.