• Collections and Documentation
  • 20th/21st-Century Collection
  • Archaeological Collection
    • Palaeolithic to Bronze Ages
    • Iron Age to Antiquity
    • Roman Period to Early Middle Ages
  • Arms and Militaria Collection
  • Banner and Flag Collection
  • Carriage, Wagon, Sled Collection
  • Ceramics Collection
  • Coin and Medal Collection
  • Ethnographic Collection
  • Furnishings Collection
  • Glass Collection
  • Graphic Collection
  • Historic Photography Collection
  • Jewellery Collection
  • Painting Collection
  • Precious Metals Collections
  • Sculpture Collection
  • Seal Collection
  • Stained Glass Collection
  • Textiles and Costume Collection
  • Timepiece and Scientific Instrument Collection
  • Toy Collection
  • Uniform Collection
• Documentation Centre
• Sammlungszentrum
• Lending and Registration
• Scientific Publications
• Online Collections

Palaeolithic to Bronze Ages

The Palaeolithic and Mesolithic Ages

From the origins of humanity until roughly 5500 BCE

The collections consist primarily of archaeological finds from the past two centuries as well as partial excavation inventories from the same period. They cover Switzerland's most important sites for historical research (e.g. Schweizersbild and Kesslerloch, canton of Schaff-
hausen).

The Neolithic and Bronze Ages

From 5500 to roughly 800 BCE

The Neolithic and Bronze-Age items constitute the traditional focus of the museum’s archaeological collection, which includes key evidence of the settlement of Swiss lakeshores over the course of 3000 years. The centrepieces are the lake-dweller colonies of the city and canton of Zurich, particularly the textile finds. The comprehensive inventories of finds from Neolithic settlements in Wauwilermoos (canton of Lucerne) come from the museum’s own excavations. With its finds from rural settlements, the museum’s Neolithic and Bronze-Age collection covers the whole of Switzerland.

From Iron Age to Antiquity (Romans and Early Middle Ages)