CH-VD-15
Yverdon les Bains, | Baie de Clendy
Short Description
The preservation of the prehistoric pile dwelling sites at Clendy Bay, in the municipality of Yverdon-les-Bains, is unique due to their location at the south-western end of Lake Neuchâtel. This geomorphological context means that the remains of the various pile-dwelling settlements are covered by a uniform layer of lacustrine and alluvial sediments. The depth of the layers favours the preservation of organic remains in a humid environment. This group of coastal sites represents one of the most important pile dwelling complexes in western Switzerland. No fewer than six villages were occupied between the Middle Neolithic (around 3900 BCE) and the Early Bronze Age (around 1500 BCE), but with interruptions due to rising water levels.
A nearby megalithic site, comprising several rows of standing stones, further enhances the appeal and complexity of this remarkable archaeological complex.
Please find further details in the "Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse DHS"
Special Features & Highlights
A total of nine evolutionary phases have been identified. The work as a whole reveals an exceptional stratigraphy, studied during the excavations on Avenue des Sports, which extends from the Middle Neolithic (around 3850 BCE) to the end of the Late Neolithic (from 2750 to 2500 BCE). This is a reference sequence for the Neolithic period in the Three Lakes region.
Pile Dwellings up close
Archaeological artefacts collected from sites on the Vaud shores of Lake Neuchâtel are on display at the Cantonal Museum of Archaeology and History in Lausanne and at the Yverdon and Region Museum in Yverdon-les-Bains.
Musée cantonal d'archéologie et d'histoire
Palais de Rumine
Place de la Riponne 6
1005 Lausanne
+41 21 316 34 30
to the website
Musée d’Yverdon et région
Le château
1400 Yverdon-les-Bains
+41 24 245 93 10
to the website
Neolithic / Bronze Age
Middle and Late Neolithic (Lüscherz and Auvernier cordé), Early Bronze Age
Lake Neuchâtel
429-430 m.a.s.l.
Size of the site:
1,87 ha / approx. 2-3 soccer pitches
Size of the bufferzone:
36,83 ha / approx. 52 soccer pitches
