La Tene by Neuchatel. Image by Jefferson Nyilas on Google Maps
Mist-veiled, Wishy sat on the rock and sobbed.
Look what they’re doing! Robbing her of her sacred gifts.
Who are these men anyway, grubbing around in her lake now the water level’s down? Didn’t they know the curses they brought upon themselves and their kind?
It wasn’t their kind who’d laid those gifts with peace in their heart, and love. Peace, for they’d fought enough, and killed enough. Swords they gave, and feasting bowls. Helmets and shields, torcs and brooches, crafted with a keen eye for Wishy in her many forms; crafted to please her. And how they did please her.
For centuries she had guarded and treasured them. And now, as if from her womb, they were torn.
119 words written for What Pegman Saw: Switzerland.
In 1857 Swiss archaeologist Hans Kopp discovered what was to be revealed as a Celtic treasure trove at La Tène on the shore of Lake Neuchâtel. To date, over 2,500 relics dating from the late Iron Age (450-50BC) have been uncovered. Want to know more? See Simon Bradley at swissinfo.ch
Artwork heavily influenced by La Tene designs on an episode heading for King’s Wife, a posted story back in 2016.
crispina kemp 
Well, I feel sorry for Wishy losing her offerings, but glad we get to see them! Great to hear her voice – she’s clearly only sleeping, not gone, cradling her gifts to her watery bosom :). Love some of those artefacts (thank you for the link!) Celtic art is some of the most inspiring, intricate and mysterious work, isn’t it? Always had a little obsession with it. Really enjoyed the story, Crispina
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Thanks, Lynn. And, of course, we live in the Celtic lands. You, more than me, except for me there’s the heritage of Boudicca, and the Snettisham Treasures.
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We are lucky to have so much heritage on our doorsteps 🙂
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I do believe we’ve said this before. But it’s true. But then, so too do the European countries. Switzerland, Austria…
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Where are you two? Sorry, Lynn, I’ve never bothered to ask you!
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England. One either side of that ancient land.
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Unique perspective piece here. Really enjoyed it. The lake’s voice. Great one! 🙂 ❤ ~Shalom, Bear
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I thank you. There were so many other angles I could have taken here. Kobolds, and gnomes and… but I’m a little obsessed with La Tene art formes. So…
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I very much like the way you’ve imagined Wishy, especially her passionate appreciation of the gifts that have been given to her. You make the beliefs of the Celts who made the offerings believable too. It’s a well-balanced and satisfying story.
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I’m somewhat immersed in the culture, so it wasn’t so difficult.
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I checked out the link, but couldn’t see the art. The King’s Wife Art is wonderful.
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Thanks, Jen. I used neolithic, Hallstat and La Tene art as inspiration all through the weekly posts.
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Wow! I don’t know much about Art but whatever inspires you works! Nice!
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Big smiles
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😊🌼
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thanks for the post ;and the link to the celtic article. most interesting!
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My pleasure. The La Tene treasure in particular is so fascinating
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Oh! This is a lovely piece. The artifacts, the wanting and the feel of loss are presented beautifully. Thank you.
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Thank you, Alicia. I enjoyed the write 🙂
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It is a really good one. I don’t know the correct word but it just makes me think. It is intricate and poignant. Is it based on some sort of belief or story? I couldn’t understand the first time I read, that’s why
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What an interesting site, thanks for the link. I like how you told the story from Wishy’s perspective, and how she felt about the offerings. I’ll echo Lynn: on the one hand, I always feel a bit inappropriate, party to those who dig up graves and holy sites to recover our ancestors’ artifacts, and yet I can’t help but gush over the knowledge and beauty that we gain in the process. Nothing is sacred for long, I suppose. Still, I hope that the archeologists and others involved were respectful of the site.
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And for me, those archeaologists provide material and inspiration for more stories. And today’s archeaologists are far more respectful than those of a century ago
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Yes indeed.
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Because this is the same for your too 🙂
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Nicely done. It certainly gives me a fresh perspective on treasures. I, too, am torn!
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I read nearly every archeaological report… where it concerns areas of interest. With modern equipment there is less need for excavation. So much can be learned without it. But there are still loads of tests which requires the physical object.
The Victorian antiquarians were dabblers, out for curiosity. The drive now is for knowledge and understanding.
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