Archaeology Now. New finds excavated in the Canton of Bern

At the heart of Lake Inkwil, on the border between the cantons of Bern and Solothurn, lies an archaeological site of outstanding significance. On the island and beneath the water are the remains of prehistoric settlements dating to the Neolithic and the Late Bronze Age. More than 6,000 years ago, wooden structures formed entire villages here. Since 2011, the site has been part of the UNESCO World Heritage “Prehistoric Pile Dwellings around the Alps” due to its exceptional state of preservation and is therefore under special protection. Recently, this protection has been put to the test: a family of beavers settled on the island and began digging tunnels through the archaeological remains. Thanks to a protection concept developed by the Archaeological Service of Canton Bern, the Cantonal Archaeology of Solothurn, and several nature conservation organisations, the site has been secured and a balance between nature and cultural heritage has been achieved.