Erlenbach–Winkel

The Erlenbach–Winkel site is a prehistoric pile dwelling settlement located on the lakeshore of Zürichsee in Switzerland. This site is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site Prehistoric Pile Dwellings around the Alps and is submerged under 4 to 7 meters of water due to the lake's expansion over time. Covering an area of 0.92 hectares, the site is notable for its Early Bronze Age structures, particularly those associated with the Corded Ware culture. This culture is primarily known through grave finds, making the discovery of habitation structures here significant. The settlement reflects a hiatus in pile dwelling construction north of the Alps for 600 years. Protected as a site of national importance, the Erlenbach–Winkel offers insights into early European habitation patterns and cultural transitions.