Underwater archaeologists discover the ruins of an ancient pile dwelling settlement. (nb.admin.ch)
(nb.admin.ch)
A diver brings an archaeological find to the surface of Lake Sempach, canton Lucerne, that dates as far back as 4,400 BC. (Kestone/Sigi Tischler)
Keystone
Ceramic pot from the early Stone Age (4,000 BC), found on the shore of Lake Zurich near Männedorf. (Keystone/Eddy Risch)
Keystone
A cutlass from the early Stone Age, found in Egolzwil, canton Lucerne. (Kantonsarchäologie Luzern)
In 1997 workers on a federal railways project found the remains of 20 prehistoric villages in Concise, canton Vaud, near Lake Neuchâtel. (Keystone/Sandro Campardo)
Keystone
This model of a pile dwelling was built for the opening of the Swiss National Museum in 1898. (Keystone/Eddy Risch)
Keystone
Historical painter Karl Jauslin (1842-1904) depicted pile dwellers. (Wikipedia)
Wikipedia
Pile dwellers on the move for the Neuchâtel shooting festival in 1882. (Laténium, Hauterive)
Diorama of the pile dwelling Cortaillod-East on Lake Neuchâtel. (Laténium)
A five-star version of a pile dwelling, Hotel Palafitte, at the Expo.02 national exhibition in Neuchâtel. (Keystone/Laurent Gillieron)
Keystone
A natural-material builder constructs a thatch roof at the Wauwil pile dwelling in canton Lucerne. (Keystone/Sigi Tischler)
Keystone
The houses in Wauwil, canton Lucerne, were built out of wood, covered in clay and then covered in straw. (Keystone/Sigi Tischler)
Keystone
Grain harvest in the field: In summer 2007, two families were the focus of a television programme called "Lake Dwellers from Pfyn - Stone Age live" by Swiss channel SF1. (SF/Daniel Ammann)
The modern "pile dwellers" at a communal meal around the fire pit. (SF/Daniel Ammann)
In a dugout canoe along Lake Walen between cantons St Gallen and Glarus. (SF/Daniel Ammann)
Pile dwellings in alpine countries have been granted World Heritage status.
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Switzerland, Germany, Austria, Slovenia, Italy and France have successfully campaigned to have 111 of the most important lakeside pile dwellings in the Alps designated World Heritage sites. Of these, 56 are in Switzerland.
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You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here. Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.