Archaeological excavations being conducted in Switzerland have led to a fascinating discovery – the site of an ancient Roman battle. The search resulted in a unique collection of metal objects, including weapons and military equipment. The main find was a Bronze Age hoard, which caused quite a stir among local archaeologists.
The research was carried out in the town of Oberhalbstein, located in the municipality of Sures. The first traces of an ancient Roman battle were discovered here back in 2003. Only recently, however, professional excavations were carried out in a field to the south of the prehistoric settlement on the transalpine trade route.
Thanks to the efforts of archaeologists and numerous volunteers, hundreds of Roman “bullets” – small sling-throwing projectiles, nails, daggers and other military equipment – were recovered from the ground. These weapons and ammunition from the time of Augustus indicate that large-scale military action took place on this field.
According to archaeologists, this encounter site was the scene of a major battle between the local Suanite tribes and three Roman legions led by the future Emperor Tiberius. The battle took place in 15 BC. It is interesting to note that this is the only Roman battlefield officially attested in Switzerland. In 2008 the remains of a Roman military summer camp were discovered, but no traces of battles were found there. The camp was set up to control the strategically important Septimer Pass.
The most surprising discovery, however, was an older Bronze Age hoard found at the site of the battle. It was the first find of its kind in the territory of this canton, so it caused a real stir among local experts. The objects were packed in a piece of leather, placed in a wooden box and carefully buried. The total number of bronze artifacts found is about 80 pieces.
The bulk of the collection is made up of ingots and pieces of unworked copper, which were used to produce metal objects in this Alpine region. In addition, finished objects such as sickles, axes, saw fragments, and jewelry have also been found. They were all intentionally damaged, indicating a ritual “killing” before burial as a sacrifice to the gods.
This discovery gives us a glimpse into the ancient history of the region and an understanding of how people lived and fought thousands of years ago. Unfortunately, much remains a mystery as researchers continue to work on deciphering these artifacts and their significance to ancient culture.
