Prehistoric pile dwellings around the Alps are a series of prehistoric pile dwelling (or stilt house) settlements in and around the Alps built from about 5000 to 500 BC on the edges of lakes, rivers or wetlands. In 2011, 111 sites located variously in Switzerland (56), Italy (19), Germany (18), France (11), Austria (5) and Slovenia (2) were added to the UNESCO World Heritage Site list.UNESCO World Heritage Site – Prehistoric Pile dwellings around the Alps In Slovenia, these were the first World Heritage Sites to be listed for their cultural value.

Excavations conducted at some of the sites have yielded evidence regarding prehistoric life and the way communities interacted with their environment during the Neolithic and Bronze Ages in Alpine Europe. These settlements are a unique group of exceptionally well-preserved and culturally rich archaeological sites, which constitute one of the most important sources for the study of early agrarian societies in the region.

Contrary to popular belief, the dwellings were not erected over water, but on nearby marshy land. They were set on piles to protect against occasional flooding. Because the lakes have grown in size over time, many of the original piles are now under water, giving modern observers the false impression that they have always been this way.Armando Mombelli, Lake dwellings reveal hidden past, SwissInfo.ch, 11 November 2011 Climate change is changing the habitats of these sites.

Map

Sites CountryPrehistoric Pile dwellings around the Alps, Locations accessed 12 August 2011. Due to errors in coordinates from this document, some coordinates come from other sources. Serial ID Number Name Location CoordinatesLocation and coordinates taken from Palafittes.org nominating documents-Revised executive summary accessed 12 August 2011. Coordinates converted from UTM. Location size (Ha) Buffer zone (Ha) Approx. Date occupied (BC)palafittes.org nomination documents accessed 14 August 2011 Switzerland 1363-001 Ägelmoos Beinwil am See 0.96 10.5 2000–1000 Switzerland 1363-002 Riesi Seengen 3.8 16.5 1500–500 Switzerland 1363-003 Vingelz / Hafen Biel/Bienne 0.6 18.4 3000–2500 Switzerland 1363-004 Dorfstation Lüscherz 3.4 75.1 4000–3500, 3000–2500, 1000–500 Switzerland 1363-005 Lobsigensee Seedorf 1.1 27.6 3500–3000 Switzerland 1363-006 Rütte Sutz-Lattrigen 2.8 49.6 3000–2500 Switzerland 1363-007 Bahnhof Twann 2.5 18.5 4000–3000 Switzerland 1363-008 Strandboden Vinelz 2.3 28.7 4000–2500 Switzerland 1363-009 Les Grèves Gletterens 2.62 2.4 3500–3000 Switzerland 1363-010 Spitz Greng 7.69 7.3 4000–3500, 3000–2500, 1500–500 Switzerland 1363-011 Môtier I Haut-Vully 1.42 1.3 Neolithic Switzerland 1363-012 Segelboothafen Murten 2.83 4.7 3000–2500 Switzerland 1363-013 En Praz des Gueux Prez 0.08 2.02 4000–3500 Switzerland 1363-014 Bellerive I Collonge-Bellerive 2.4 8.87 1000–500 Switzerland 1363-015 Port Corsier 1.94 10.9 4000–3500, 3000–2500, 2000–1500, 1000–500 Switzerland 1363-016 Bourg Versoix 3.03 15.93 1500–500 Switzerland 1363-017 Egolzwil 3 Egolzwil 0.65 56.82 5000–4000 Switzerland 1363-018 Seematte Hitzkirch 2.81 24.55 4000–2500 Switzerland 1363-019 Halbinsel Sursee 3.55 67.78 4000–3500, 2500–500 Switzerland 1363-020 Port-Conty Saint-Aubin-Sauges 1.04 7.03 4000–2000 Switzerland 1363-021 Les Argilliez Gorgier 1.32 1.2 4000–3500 Switzerland 1363-022 L’Abbaye 2 Bevaix 1.04 5.01 1040–986 Switzerland 1363-023 La Saunerie Milvignes 1.51 1.63 4000–3500, 3000–2000 Switzerland 1363-024 Les Graviers Milvignes 0.57 2.13 3500–2500, 2000–1500, 1000–500 Switzerland 1363-025 Kehrsiten Stansstad 1.26 5.14 4000–3000 Switzerland 1363-026 Weier I – III Thayngen 0.48 3.44 4000–3500 Switzerland 1363-027 Freienbach–Hurden Rosshorn Hurden 4.32 20.1 3500–3000, 2000–500 Switzerland 1363-028 Freienbach–Hurden Seefeld Hurden 2.4 16.12 3500–2500 Switzerland 1363-029 Burgäschisee Ost Aeschi 0.3 90.69 4000–3500, 3000–2500 Switzerland 1363-030 Inkwilersee Insel Bolken/Inkwil 0.1 45.71 4000-3500, 3000–2500, 1000–500 Switzerland 1363-031 Feldbach Kempraten/Feldbach 7.5 15.5 4000–1000 Switzerland 1363-032 Rapperswil-Jona–Technikum Rapperswil 0.92 49.1 2000–1500 Switzerland 1363-033 Bleiche 2–3 Arbon 2.37 5.84 3500–3000, 2000–1500 Switzerland 1363-034 Insel Werd Eschenz 2.8 44.08 4000–2500, 1500–500 Switzerland 1363-035 Egelsee Gachnang-Niederwil 2.97 5.94 4000–3500 Switzerland 1363-036 Nussbaumersee Hüttwilen 3.66 16.86 5000–2500, 1000–500 Switzerland 1363-037 Pointe de Montbec I Chabrey 1.78 8.04 1500–500 Switzerland 1363-038 La Bessime Chevroux 1.07 22.1 4000–3500, 1000–500 Switzerland 1363-039 Village Chevroux 1.54 38.4 3500–2000 Switzerland 1363-040 Stations de Concise Corcelles-près-Concise 6.5 11.5 4000–2500 Switzerland 1363-041 Corcelettes Les Violes Grandson 2.59 17.4 1500–500 Switzerland 1363-042 Les Roseaux Morges 0.86 8.1 2000–1000 Switzerland 1363-043 Stations de Morges Morges 2.12 7.91 2000–1000 Switzerland 1363-044 Chenevières de Guévaux I Mur, now Vully-les-Lacs 1.04 9.73 2000–1500 Switzerland 1363-045 Baie de Clendy Yverdon-les-Bains 1.87 38.7 4000–1500 Switzerland 1363-046 Le Marais Yvonand 1.95 16.8 3500–2500, 1000–500 Switzerland 1363-047 Oterswil / Insel Eielen Zug 0.45 10.82 3000–2000 Switzerland 1363-048 Riedmatt Zug 0.28 2.61 3500–2500, 1500–1000 Switzerland 1363-049 Sumpf Zug 1.55 7.5 1500–500 Switzerland 1363-050 Erlenbach–Winkel Erlenbach 3.01 6.6 4000–1500, 1000–500 Switzerland 1363-051 Greifensee–Storen/Wildsberg Greifensee 9.59 11.7 4000–2500 Switzerland 1363-052 Meilen–Rorenhaab Meilen 0.7 4.8 4000–2500, 2000–1500, 1000–500 Switzerland 1363-053 Wädenswil–Vorder Au Wädenswil 1.49 22.5 3500–1500 Switzerland 1363-054 Wetzikon-Robenhausen Wetzikon 0.92 155 4000–2500, 2000–1500, 1000–500 Switzerland 1363-055 Zürich–Enge Alpenquai Zürich 2.93 17.4 1500–500 Switzerland 1363-056 Kleiner Hafner Zürich 0.64 16.56 5000–1500, 1000–500 Austria 1363-057 Keutschacher See Keutschach am See 0.21 132.5 4000–3500, 1000–500 Austria 1363-058 Abtsdorf I Attersee am Attersee 1.1 91.43 1500–1000 Austria 1363-059 Abtsdorf III Attersee am Attersee 0.22 91.43 4000–3000 Austria 1363-060 Litzlberg Süd Seewalchen am Attersee 0.76 65.26 4000–3000 Austria 1363-061 See Mondsee 1.22 0.97 3500–3000 France 1363-062 Le Grand Lac de Clairvaux Clairvaux-les-Lacs 15.2 103.05 4000–500 France 1363-063 Lac de Chalain, rive occidentale Marigny, Doucier, Fontenu 50.65 96.83 5300–600 France 1363-064 Lac d’Aiguebelette, zone sud Aiguebelette-le-Lac, Saint-Alban-de-Montbel 0.64 42.87 3000–2500 France 1363-065 Baie de Grésine Brison-Saint-Innocent 4.09 31.5 1000–500 France 1363-066 Baie de Châtillon Chindrieux 0.91 7.6 1000–500 France 1363-067 Hautecombe Saint-Pierre-de-Curtille 2.03 5.7 3500–3000 France 1363-068 Littoral de Tresserve Tresserve 2.12 72.4 1000–500 France 1363-069 Littoral de Chens-sur-Léman Chens-sur-Léman 0.93 92.6 1500–500 France 1363-070 Les Marais de Saint-Jorioz Saint-Jorioz 0.49 4.3 4000–3500 France 1363-071 Le Crêt de Chatillon Sévrier 1.07 8.2 1500–500 France 1363-072 Secteur des Mongets Sévrier, Saint-Jorioz 0.13 63.2 2000–1500 Germany 1363-073 Wangen-Hinterhorn Öhningen 2.56 3.2 4000–2500, 1500–500 Germany 1363-074 Hornstaad-Hörnle Gaienhofen 13.11 72.4 4000–2500 Germany 1363-075 Allensbach-Strandbad Allensbach 2.65 6.6 4000–2500 Germany 1363-076 Wollmatingen-Langenrain Konstanz 1.55 83.7 1000–500 Germany 1363-077 Konstanz-Hinterhausen Konstanz 4.15 4.12 4000–3500, 3000–2500 Germany 1363-078 Litzelstetten-Krähenhorn 32 Konstanz 7.51 47.92 3960–3805 Germany 1363-079 Bodman-Schachen / Löchle Bodman-Ludwigshafen 5.34 14.1 4000–3500, 3000–2500, 2000–1000 Germany 1363-080 Sipplingen-Osthafen Sipplingen 4.61 6.23 3919–2417, 934–933 Germany 1363-081 Unteruhldingen-Stollenwiesen Uhldingen-Mühlhofen 4.22 4.52 4000–3500, 3000–2500, 2000–500 Germany 1363-082 Ödenahlen Alleshausen 0.97 58.02 4000–3500 Germany 1363-083 Grundwiesen Alleshausen 0.54 3.42 3020–2700 Germany 1363-084 Siedlung Forschner Bad Buchau 3.54 285.14 1767–1480 Germany 1363-085 Olzreute-Enzisholz Bad Schussenried 1.82 20.62 3000–2500 Germany 1363-086 Schreckensee Wolpertswende 1.06 7.05 3651–3263 Germany 1363-087 Ehrenstein Blaustein 1.33 2.42 4000–3500 Germany 1363-088 Pestenacker Weil 0.57 3.66 3495–3481 Germany 1363-089 Unfriedshausen Geltendorf 0.79 7.69 3813–3535 Germany 1363-090 Rose Island Feldafing 15.16 34.3 5000–2500, 2000–500 Italy 1363-091 Palù di Livenza – Santissima Polcenigo 13.48 86.72 4766–4375, 3768–3538 Italy 1363-092 Lavagnone Desenzano del Garda 6.04 14.45 2500–1000 Italy 1363-093 San Sivino, Gabbiano Manerba del Garda 1.85 3.46 2500–1500 Italy 1363-094 Lugana Vecchia Sirmione 2.59 11.16 2500–1000 Italy 1363-095 Lucone Polpenazze del Garda 7.66 68.2 5000–3500, 2500–1500 Italy 1363-096 Lagazzi del Vho Piadena 2.77 18.46 2000–1500 Italy 1363-097 Bande – Corte Carpani Cavriana 7.33 36.4 2005–1959 Italy 1363-098 Castellaro Lagusello – Fondo Tacoli Monzambano 1.23 59.04 2000–1000 Italy 1363-099 Isolino Virginia-Camilla-Isola di San Biagio Biandronno 3.79 25.07 5000–1000 Italy 1363-100 Bodio centrale o delle Monete Bodio Lomnago 1.67 28.55 2000–1000 Italy 1363-101 Il Sabbione o settentrionale Cadrezzate 1.18 9.61 2000–1000 Italy 1363-102 VI.1-Emissario Viverone, Azeglio 5.86 852.77 2000–1000 Italy 1363-103 Mercurago Arona 5.16 270.06 2000–1000 Italy 1363-104 Molina di Ledro Ledro 0.78 2.31 1900–1300 Italy 1363-105 Fiavé-Lago Carera Fiavè 10.7 73.92 4000–3500, 2000–1000 Italy 1363-106 Belvedere Peschiera del Garda 2.52 12.46 2500–1500 Italy 1363-107 Frassino Peschiera del Garda 1.48 31.19 2000–1000 Italy 1363-108 Tombola Cerea 1.51 123.76 1500–1000 Italy 1363-109 Laghetto della Costa Arquà Petrarca 1.56 6.52 2500–1500 Slovenia 1363-110 Kolišča na Igu, severna skupina Ig 19.2 516.65 3000–1500 Slovenia 1363-111 Kolišča na Igu, južna skupina Ig 26.1 516.55 5000–2500

Gallery

See also Prehistoric pile dwellings around Lake Zurich Cortaillod culture Horgen culture Pfyn culture Clairvaux-les-Lacs Rumah adat

References

External links

Prehistoric Pile Dwellings around the Alps : UNESCO Official Website