Leaky Homes

The items in this display came originally from prehistoric Neolithic and Bronze Age villages along the shores of Swiss lakes that came to light because of low water levels during a drought in 1854. Having been under water all that time, timber posts, woven textiles, pottery and even food had survived. But this collection not only tells us about how our European ancestors lived, the glass plates and containers used to store and display the items are also a measure of how much time has passed since these early-excavation collections were made in the late 19th century and early 20th centuries. Two histories for the price of one, you might say.