Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1879-07-18
Pra-Historio Fingers.

The lake of Neuchatel, which, like
other Swiss lakes Immediately before
the melting of Alpine SHOWS, would
naturally be lower than at any other
time of the year, is just now, by reason
of the insignificant rainfall of the last
five weeks and the correction" of the
waters of the Jura, lower than has ever
before been known, and continues to
yield rich rewards to tho researches of
antiquarian explorers. Prof. Forel, of
Neuchatel, found few days since, at
the lacustrine station of Corcelet, an
earthenware vase, dating from the Age
of Bronze. On the bottom of the vase
are plainly visible theimpressions made
by the fingers of the prehistoric potter
in the plastic clay. Of these fingers, or
rather of the thumb and fOrefinger, for
the other digits are unfortunately lack
ing, the professor has taken plaster
ef Paris cast and submitted them to u
minute examination. He pronounces
the maker of the vase to have been a
woman. There are two impressions of
the thumb and three of the foreiinger.
The prints left by the nails are perfect;
that of the thumb, which must have
been regular, well-shaped and of an ell
egant conveXity, measures in length
twelve millimeters (about one-halt inch)
in breadth eleven millimeters; the
length and breadth of the fingernail,
equally well modelled, are eleven and
nine meters respectively, the transverse
convexity representing curve or rise
(fechG) of two millimeters. These
nails, considers M. Forel, can only
have belonged TO female hand. The
vase has been placed in the cabinet of
antiquities in the Vaudois Cantonal Mu-
scum at Lausanne. Another inYestlga-
tor, who has been cutting trenches in
the ground lett bare by the abate-
ment of the waters of the lake,
has arrived after careful oxamina-
tion of the debris and relics which his
explorations have brought to light, at
some interesting conclusions concern
ing the way in which certain of these
lake dwellings were destroyed, the time
of year when they disappeared, and the
level of the lake at the epoch of their
extinction. He believes they were de-
stroyed by fire. This opinion he bases
on the fact that, in all his explorations
llC liuNlO JllO OtllllC = IbN VI hAiN
sand blackened and interspersed with
charcoal and partly burnt seeds and
bits of wood. This debris has evidently
been carried to its present position by
the waters of the lake, and varies in
thickness according to the inclination
of the slope on which it has been de-
posted. In other places besides those
where the trenches have been cut, SINH
lar indications are observable-fOr eX
ample, at Bied, where in sinking fol
the foundation of n house, q lacustrinC
cemetery was some time ago discovered
and at ColOmbier, where a stream run
ming over the dry bed of the lake neal
the shore has laid bare debris identica
with that brought to light by the exca
vations in question. From the quality
and quantity of the winter stores, sucf
rs nuts, seeds and berries, found among
these remains, the burning of the lakC
dwellings probably occurred in the
spring or early summer. In one placC
a vessel was found filled with acorns
which, not being Il favorite food, woulC
naturally, it is presumed, be left to the
last, and only used in default of some
thing more palatable. From these
facts and considerations it is inferred
that at the time when many, if not al
the lake villages of Neuchatel fell ;
prey to the flames, its waters were a
the height usual with them in spring
before their level had been artiiicially
lowered by the engineering operations
recently undertaken for combining with
in their channels the streams of tina
part of the Jurassic range which domi
mates the valleys of Neuchatel ant
Morat.-LOndon Times.