Hidden Beneath Swiss Construction Site, Ancient Roman Treasures Emerge, Revealing Forgotten Civilization Secrets
Rare Discoveries Among Ancient Roman Ruins In Northern Switzerland
Kanton AargauFollowing geological surveys, archaeologists were able to focus on an excavation area of 18,000 square meters.
According to a press release from the Canton of Aargau, the discoveries were made during excavations ahead of the development of three new apartment buildings in the area. After a geological survey, archaeologists began to excavate an area of roughly 194,000 square feet.
Within this area, archaeologists identified a Roman road with buildings and courtyards on either side, as well as porticoes. The road was 13 feet wide, and had apparently been restored multiple times. The bones of the houses were surprisingly well-preserved, and because of their “rectangular floor plans, internal layout, and rear courtyards,” archaeologists believe they were strip houses, or row houses.
Archaeologists also found several shafts and pits in the courtyard of the houses, which may have been latrines or storage shafts. In addition, they also unearthed several infant burials — in ancient Rome, which had a high infant mortality rate, infants were customarily buried at the family’s home.
But perhaps the most fascinating finds during the excavation were a number of “rare” objects. Archaeologists unearthed a tuff votive holder, a mosaic glass spindle whorl, and a small bronze panther statuette.
Römerstadt Augusta RauricaThe bronze panther figurine that was unearthed during excavations at Augusta Raurica.
This part of Augusta Raurica was likely developed between the late first century C.E. and the 3rd century C.E., which places it near the end of this Roman settlement’s tumultuous history.
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