A Roman dagger was discovered in 2019 in the Swiss canton of Graubünden, and thousands of Roman artifacts were unearthed in the following years.
Switzerland was once ruled by the Romans, and there are many Roman ruins, but no remains of a battlefield have been found. This is the first time that the remains of an ancient Roman battlefield have been found in Switzerland. Archaeologists have pieced together the battlefields of ancient Rome more than 2,000 years ago through artifacts and plan to make a documentary about this history.
Location of the canton of Graubünden, Switzerland.
Expansion into Switzerland
Around 15 BC,An important battle took place here between the Roman army marching north and the local indigenous warriors, and the remains of the battle are flanked by the Juliel valley south of Chur, at the Juliel Pass in the Albula AlpsIt marked the Roman conquest of the Alpine region.
Reconstruction of the battle of 15 BC.
The Roman army won the battle and then marched along the Rhine to the Swiss plateau, eventually bringing Switzerland into the arms of the expanding Roman Empire.
Roman dagger. The rule of the Romans over the Alps lasted for a long time. In the first century BC, Roman armies marched here several times, most likely for reasons such as increasing tax revenues and establishing a stable logistical route to Germany.
Unexpected artifact discoveries
In the early 2000s, some Roman artifacts were found here, but it is later thought that the area has been cleaned up. It wasn't until 2019, when an amateur archaeologist discovered a 2,000-year-old dagger with a metal detector, that interest in the site was rekindled.
Roman dagger 2000 years ago.
Since then,A series of cultural relics such as brooches, shields, and coins have been unearthed here one after another, totaling thousands of pieces. This autumn alone, during the three-week excavation, about 250-300 artifacts were discovered every day.
Slingshot bullets. There is a lot of information hidden in these seemingly inconspicuous artifacts. For example, the flat-headed nails on the boots of Roman soldiers scattered on the battlefield. Using modern technology, researchers can map where each flathead nail falls, aiding in determining where the fighter stands or falls, as well as the course of the battle.
Imitation of Roman flat spike boots.
These artifacts can be used to piece together the story of this battle. Although usually, it is impossible to determine the specific age of artifacts such as stone bullets or flat-headed nailsHowever, it is documented that around 15 BC, Emperor Augustus conquered the territory of present-day Switzerland. Among them was the Battle of the Alps, which did not record success or failure.
Archaeologists believe that the site of this battlefield is likely to be left behind by that battle, and an analysis of the artifacts can confirm that the Romans won the battle.
And a Roman coin struck from the reign of Emperor Augustus between 29 BC and 26 BC has recently been found at the site.