Cortaillod

a Middle Neolithic archaeological culture (fourth millennium B.C.) in northwestern and western Switzerland and in eastern France. It was named after the village of Cortaillod on the western shore of Lake Neuchâtel.

Settlements of the Cortaillod culture were usually built along lake shores and enclosed by palings. The inhabitants lived in rectangular pile dwellings and were engaged primarily in stock raising and some farming. The Cortaillod culture is characterized by clay hemispherical and sharp-edged goblets, sack-like vessels, and rounded vases with high necks; wooden bowls have also been found. The tools were made of pebbles (polished wedge-shaped axes), flint (end scrapers, knives, arrowheads), and antler (harpoons and axes). Various ornaments (pendants, beads) were made from bone and antler.