Beneath our feet lies a submerged world. This is Grosser Hafner. It is an archaeological site steeped in history.
Grosser Hafner was once an island. It sat in the swampy area between the Limmat River and Lake Zurich. Today, it’s a UNESCO World Heritage site. It is one of 111 prehistoric pile-dwelling locations around the Alps. 56 of these are in Switzerland.
Imagine life here thousands of years ago. Prehistoric people built homes on piles. These piles protected them from floods from the Linth and Jona rivers. Grosser Hafner was neighbored by Zürich Enge Alpenquai and Kleiner Hafner. Kleiner Hafner was on an island in the Limmat’s outflow.
In 2009, construction workers building an underground parking facility made a startling discovery. They found remains of prehistoric pile dwellings. The find was near Kleiner Hafner. Instead of rushing ahead, construction stopped for nine months. Archaeologists carefully recorded the settlement remains. You can now see these findings in a lakeside pavilion.
But Grosser Hafner’s story doesn’t end in prehistoric times. During the Roman era, Emperor Hadrian ordered a round wooden temple built on the island. This island sanctuary was completed around 122 AD. Oak piles driven deep into the lake bottom supported it. The temple was likely enclosed by perishable walls. This created a circle about seven meters in diameter.
Archaeological finds suggest the temple was used until the 3rd or even 4th century AD. The Gallo-Roman population likely used it. Coins and the temple’s design support this theory. Divers have recovered nearly 100 kilograms of tile fragments. They also found over 40 coins. Pottery shards were also discovered.
Grosser Hafner and Kleiner Hafner together span 0.64 hectares. The buffer zone, including the lake area, covers 16.56 hectares. The settlements represent all periods of pile dwelling. Finds include artifacts from the Neolithic Egolzwil, Cortaillod and Horgen cultures. These finds help us understand cultural development from the late 5th to early 4th millennia BC.
Grosser Hafner is a Class A object of national importance. It is protected under Swiss federal law. Unauthorized digging or collecting artifacts is a criminal offense.
Today, Grosser Hafner rests beneath the water. It is a testament to the many layers of history that make up Zurich. The lake hides secrets of prehistoric settlements and Roman temples. Grosser Hafner remains a significant historical landmark. It offers us a glimpse into the lives of those who came before us.