Page:Palæolithic Man and Terramara Settlements in Europe.djvu/459

Rh recognised the importance of the objects in question), made further researches in the peat at Mercurago, the result of which was to leave no doubt that they had here to deal with the remains of a true palafitte analogous to the pile- dwellings in the Swiss lakes. During the next two years Gastaldi's report was considerably enlarged by further finds at Mercurago (B. 4 and 7).

About the same time that these discoveries at Mercurago were being made the existence of a palafitte in Lake Garda was surmised from the finding, at various times, of bronze implements and weapons in the harbour at Peschiera ; but nothing further of a very definite character occurred till the summer of 1863, when Professors Desor and De Mortillet visited Lombardy in search of lake- dwellings. These eminent archæologists were joined by Professor Stoppani, and the immediate result of their investigations was the discovery of several settlements in Lake Varese and elsewhere (B. 14). Since then the lacustrine stations south of the Alps have greatly increased in number, there being now scarcely any of the smaller lakes and turbaries of North Italy that have not yielded more or fewer remains of this character.

The distribution of lake-dwellings in Italy is confined to the Po Valley, and as the course of the river is practically from west to east, it is convenient in describing its chief lacustrine remains to follow the order thus suggested, more especially as those in the eastern portion of the basin have certain characteristics which are not found in those of Western Lombardy. Accordingly we begin with Lake Varese, the settlements of which appear to have been the most important among the western group.

Lake Varese.

Lake Varese is irregularly shaped, about 5^ miles in length, and less than half that in breadth. It occupies a somewhat shallow basin, its greatest depth being 85 feet, and, although  bounded on the north by high hills, its banks are generally flat  or shelving. Its surface is 770 feet above sea-level, and 134 feet above that of Lake Maggiore, to which its surplus water is  carried by the Bardello, a stream which has its outlet at the  north end of the lake. The district around is rich and well cultivated, except on the south side, where the lake becomes  contiguous with an extensive peat-bog, called "torbiera della  Brabbia." When Stoppani and his illustrious friends, along with Desor's experienced fisher, Benz, commenced their lacustrine explorations in Lombardy, they selected Lake Varese to  start with, on account of the suitability of its shores for such