Rapperswil-Jona–Technikum

Rapperswil-Jona-Technikum is a Bronze Age settlement site submerged in Lake Zurich that reveals early Alpine communities. The remains include structures built from wood and a collection of objects made from metal, stone, and clay that show daily life from this period.

Discovered by divers in 1998, the site dates to around 3500 years ago during the Bronze Age. Wooden structures arranged in rows show that people built and rebuilt their settlement multiple times over several centuries.

The settlement's location on the lake shore made it a natural hub for communities living near the water. The artifacts reveal how people crafted their daily tools and organized their working lives around this inland waterway.

The underwater site itself cannot be visited directly, but artifacts from excavations are displayed in regional museums for public viewing. Plan to visit these museums to learn about the settlement and see the objects that archaeologists recovered from the lake.

A soapstone mold for making razor blades was found at the site, showing that this was an important metalworking center for the region. This discovery suggests the inhabitants possessed advanced craft skills and likely traded their products with neighboring communities.

Location: Rapperswil-Jona

Location: canton St. Gallen

Part of: prehistoric pile dwellings around the Alps

Address: Seedamm

Website: http://palafittes.org/en

GPS coordinates: 47.22200,8.81489

Latest update: December 9, 2025 20:24