it is believed that the industrial peat extraction during the second World War may have largely destroyed it. Economy Some evidence of metal working has been found in the region between Lake Constance and Lake Zürich from about the time period of the Pfyn culture. Unfortunately, most of the metal comes from isolated finds and so is poorly dated. However, a copper wire and dagger from the Pfyn era were found at Reute in Appenzell Ausserrhoden as well as crucibles and casting spills. Intensification of pig farming occurred during the Pfyn culture in the eastern part of the Alpine foreland. Keeping large numbers of pigs is typical of the Horgen and Corded Ware culture. This 'pig economy' was exported westward by the Horgen culture. Grain production was also very important. At the Pfyn era sites near Zurich, Durum wheat and Barley were most commonly found. About half of the total calories consumed by the Pfyn era people came from grain. Sites Pfyn culture sites have been discovered in several locations in eastern Switzerland. These include: Breitenloo about from Pfyn in the canton of Thurgau along the Thur river. Feldmeilen-Vorderfeld and Meilen on the right bank of Lake Zurich. Four layers of Pfyn culture artifacts (4350-3950 BC calibrated) are followed by five Horgen culture layers were found at Feldmeilen. In Meilen, one Pfyn layer (4250-4000 BC) followed by three Horgen layers were discovered. See also Prehistoric pile dwellings around the Alps References Schibler, J. 2006. The economy and environment of the 4th and 3rd millennia BC in the northern Alpine foreland based on studies of animal bones. Environmental Archaeology 11(1): 49-65 External links Archaeological cultures of Central Europe Ancient Switzerland Archaeological cultures in Germany Archaeological cultures in Switzerland