Prehistoric pile dwellings discovered in the regions of Lake Constance and Upper Swabia have been added to the World Heritage list. Constance is the only place that boasts three UNESCO archaeological sites within its town boundaries.
HERE ARE ALL THREE SITES AT A GLANCE
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Discovered back in 1859, this pile-dwelling site lies on the northern shore of Constance’s Trichter bay. The extensive pile field and the wealth of archaeological finds shed light on the fascinating history of a Neolithic settlement. Located near the ford of the river Rhine at Constance, Hinterhausen is one of a group of settlements that served as a control station at the crossing on the Rhine.
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This pile-dwelling site was discovered in 1899 and is located on a promontory on the northern shore of the Bodanrück peninsula, right next to a bathing beach. The large pile field and two layers of human habitation, separated by lacustrine chalk, are clear indications of a longer period of settlement here in the early and late Neolithic Age.
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Well protected and permanently submerged, the Wollmatingen-Langenrain site is situated on the edge of an island of reeds. Found in 1882, it is one of the few well-preserved settlements on Lake Constance dating from the Late Bronze Age. The inhabitants of this pile dwelling also controlled the traffic routes, which were vital for communication and transportation.