Ancient Roman walls discovered in Swiss Alps are an 'archaeological sensation'

Archaeologists have unearthed ancient Roman walls in the foothills of the Swiss Alps

Archaeologists in Switzerland have discovered the remains of 2,000-year-old Roman walls in the foothills of the Alps.

Excavation tent at Cham-Äbnetwald. (Image credit: ADA Zug, David Jecker)

The walls, which once protected a Roman building complex, were found during the excavation of a gravel pit in Cham in the canton, or state, of Zug in central Switzerland. So far, archaeologists have also unearthed pieces from a plaster wall; iron nails; gold fragments, possibly from jewelry; and items such as bowls, millstones for grinding, glassware, crockery and ceramic jugs known as amphorae.

The findings are an "archaeological sensation" for the region and could shed light on Roman activity in central Switzerland, officials with the Office for the Preservation of Monuments and Archeology said in a translated statement.

Excavators uncover parts of a Roman wall at Cham-Äbnetwald archaeological site. (Image credit: ADA Zug, David Jecker)

"Roman buildings of similar dimensions were last excavated in Cham-Heiligkreuz almost 100 years ago," Gishan Schaeren, head of the Department of Prehistory and Protohistoric Archaeology, said in the statement. "We were also amazed that the top bricks were even visible above ground."

Excavated part of the exposed walls at the Cham-Äbnetwald archaeological site. (Image credit: ADA Zug, David Jecker)

The walls extend over an area of at least 5,300 square feet (500 square meters). But it's unclear how Romans used the site, including whether it was a "villa with a view or a temple building," Christa Ebnöther, a professor of archeology of the Roman provinces at the University of Bern, said in the statement.

A silver coin of Julius Caesar from the first century B.C. The face of the coin shows an elephant trampling on a dragon or snake (Image credit: ADA Zug, Res Eichenberger)

During the excavations, archaeologists found evidence of elite people at the site, whose belongings included imported Roman tableware known as terra sigillata — which means "sealed earth" in Latin — and detailed glass vessels. Meanwhile, the amphorae, which typically held liquids such as wine, olive oil and fish sauce, are evidence that Romans in the region traded with those in the Mediterranean, the team said.

An amphora base, piece of a mortar, rim of a bowl, four coins, a gold object, pieces of a bottle and a blue glass bowl. (Image credit: ADA Zug, Res Eichenberger)

The archaeologists also found several copper and bronze coins, including a silver denarius minted by Julius Caesar from the first century B.C., which depicts an elephant trampling on a creature that is either a snake or a dragon.

The discovery of the Roman walls is not the first ancient find in the area. Archaeologists previously found the remains of a middle Bronze Age settlement, burials from the late late Bronze Age, and a number of coins from the era of the Celts, a people who later sacked Rome.

People have a chance to visit the Roman ruins during an "excavation day" on Sept. 2, according to the statement.