Archaeologists are calling the August discovery of an ancient Roman wall in the Swiss Alps an “archaeological sensation,” according to a translated statement from the central Swiss state of Zug.
The remains of a large Roman building were uncovered in early 2023, but have only now been revealed to the public, the Aug. 22 statement from Zug reads. Along with the wall, archaeologists found gold fragments, bits of plaster, iron nails, bowls, glassware, crockery and more throughout the site.
“The discovery is an archaeological sensation for the canton of Zug and will provide important insights into the Romans in the pre-Alpine Central Switzerland,” the statement reads. While it’s not yet clear how Romans used the site, the sheer scale of it is something of a surprise, according to researchers.
2000-year-old Roman walls discovered in Swiss canton Zug! (SWI https://t.co/rBUwfS5gJI)
I’ve always wondered why so little of the Roman era remains on this side of the Alps, considering that this was the obvious route of Roman armies and trades. https://t.co/82GSoCvwLm— Luca Ecari (@lecaritweets) August 22, 2023
The walls extend some 5,300 feet (500 square meters), suggesting it could have been a villa or possibly a temple building, one professor said in the statement. (RELATED: Roman-Era ‘Death Magic’ Tools Used To Communicate With The Dead Found Near Jerusalem)
Copper and bronze coins also filled the site, including a silver denarius minted by Julius Caesar, according to the press release. Previous discoveries in the region suggest it was a place of cultural diversity, as late Bronze Age materials and coins from the Celtic culture have also been found.
Just six days ago, researchers discovered a Roman amphitheater with blood-red walls near Megiddo, Israel. An ancient Roman shrine was also located beneath Leicester Cathedral in England in March. Is it just me, or does 2023 feel like the year of the Romans for archaeology?