"Jewelry,
weapons and tools made of copper as well as imported items made from rare
materials such as jade, amber or gold were highly sought after and served as
status symbols."
Many
of the lakeshores were densely settled as early as the Late Stone and Bronze
Ages. At that time, pile-dwelling
villages stood on the shores and in the water.
Many everyday items have survived in the waterlogged ground and give us
a glimpse of the lives of these early farmers.
Pile dwellings have been designated UNESCO World Heritage sites.
From 2,300 BC, the discovery of bronze, an
alloy of copper and tin that was used to manufacture tools, weapons and
jewelry, transformed the lives of populations living in the area of present-day
Switzerland. The transportation of
copper and tin over land and by water from far-flung regions facilitated the
development of long distance trade. At
the same time, religious traditions also spread: artifacts bearing similar solar and lunar
symbols could now be found in many parts of Europe. Bronze was such a precious material that it
was also used as a means of payment and to make offerings to the gods. However, this new-fund wealth also resulted
in greed and conflict.
Nice blog! I wonder which museum in Switzerland houses these ancient exhibits. I would love to visit that particular museum to learn more about them.
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