 During severe droughts in Switzerland in the mid-nineteenth century, lake areas that had been previously inundated with water, were exposed to reveal ancient archaeological remains of various types of timber piling support assemblies that served has foundations for both individual houses and community buildings.The design of these timber assemblies varied by the time of occupation, whether during the bronze or stone age, and also by geological conditions where the timbers rested.The communities were called the Swiss Lake Dwellers and were located in various fresh water lakes around Zurich and other areas in Switzerland.