CH-BE-07

Twann, Bahnhof. The site during the excavation 1974-1976. Numerous settlements were built on top of each other at a suitable place. © Archäologischer Dienst des Kanton Bern

  Twann  |     Bahnhof

Short Description
This site is of great importance, in terms of both research history and the beginnings of modern pile dwelling research. It yielded important reference collections for the settlement history of the 4th millennium BC or the Middle and Upper Neolithic periods. Whilst large-scale rescue excavations were mounted from 1974 to 1976, it was the examinations carried out between 1984 and 1987 and again in 2015 that showed that the cultural layers continue further into the lake and are still well preserved. So far, the extensive results of the investigations on this site have been published in 21 thematic volumes.

"Pile Dwellings in Switzerland" © gsk.ch 2017

Neolithic

between ca. 3840-3500 B.C. and between ca. 3400-2975 B.C.

Lake Biel

428 m.a.s.l.

Size of the site 2,5 ha / approx. 4 soccer pitches

Size of the bufferzone 18,5 ha / approx. 26 soccher pitches

Special features and highlights
Numerous stratified settlement phases on top of each other.
One of the key sites for Swiss Neolithic research.
Well preserved soil archive.
Europe's oldest preserved sourdough made bread from wheat flour

Twann, Bahnhof. Sourdough bread made from wheat flour, dating from 3560-3530 B.C. © Archäologischer Dienst des Kantons Bern

Current activities
Regular monitoring by the diving team of the Archaeological Service.

to read more:
Werner E. Stöckli, Die neolithischen Ufersiedlungen von Twann, Band 21. Hefte zur Archäologie im Kanton Bern 3. Bern 2018. 184 S.; CHF 28.–; ISBN 978-3-9524659-6-7 adb.sab@be.ch

Archäologie macht Geschichte. Funde aus dem Kanton Bern. 50 Jahre Archäologischer Dienst. Bern 2020. 200 S., 171 Farbabb.; CHF 32.–. ISBN 978-3-9525057-1-7. adb.sab@be.ch

Pile Dwelling up close:

Neues Museum Biel
Faubourg du Lac 52
2501 Biel/Bienne
+41 32 328 70 30 / 31
info@nmbienne.ch
to the website

Bernisches Historisches Museum
Helvetiaplatz 5
3005 Bern
+41 31 350 77 11
info@bhm.ch
to the website

Pfahlbaumuseum im Fraubrunnenhaus, Twann
Pfahlbausammlung Dr. Carl Irlet
Fraubrunnenhaus
Dorfgasse 28
2513 Twann
+41 32 315 11 59
to the website