Kleiner Hafner, Neolithic settlement site at Lake Zurich, Switzerland
Kleiner Hafner is an archaeological settlement on the shore of Lake Zurich with remains from multiple prehistoric phases of human habitation. The excavation site contains dwelling structures and is now accessible to visitors through an exhibition pavilion.
The settlement was inhabited during prehistoric times and later, in 122 AD, a Roman wooden temple structure used the location as a sacred sanctuary. Excavations in 2009 brought these layers to light and allowed researchers to document the long history of the place.
The artifacts come from different prehistoric cultures and show pottery, tools, and jewelry that visitors can see displayed. These objects tell the story of the people who lived here and left behind their everyday items.
The exhibition pavilion on the shore displays the archaeological finds through multimedia presentations and explains the different settlement phases. Visitors can easily reach the displays and have a direct view of the lakeshore and excavation site.
Dendrochronological dating revealed that the Roman wooden shrine came from a very specific time, providing rare insights into Roman religious practices by the lake. This tree-ring analysis method delivers precision that is normally not possible with such ancient structures.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
