While excavating a known Roman battle site in the Swiss Alps, archaeologists stumbled upon a hoard of 80 artifacts dating back to the late Bronze Age. Some of the most notable items include sickles, axes, part of a saw and fragments of jewelry, among many pieces of raw copper.

Experts believe these artifacts may have been intentionally buried as an offering, as the pieces were intentionally damaged and deformed before being wrapped in leather and placed in a wooden box. They date from around 1200 to 1000 BCE, a time when the selective destruction and dumping of metal valuables was a widespread cultural practice.

“The in-depth scientific investigation that will now follow this discovery, which is unique in our region, will certainly provide in-depth information on the cultural, economic and landscape history of the Late Bronze Age,” said archaeologist Thomas Reitmaier.

80 Bronze Age artefacts discovered at a Roman battle site Salouf-Vostga in the Swiss Alps. Photo: Archaeological Service of Graubünden.

The excavation, which took place in October 2022, was part of a larger research project by the Graubünden Regional Archaeological Service at the site of a known conflict between the Romans and the local Suanetestribe around 15 BCE. This ongoing project takes place in Salouf-Vostga in Switzerland’s Oberhalbstein Valley, about 160 kilometers southeast of Zurich.

The Bronze Age artifacts were found in a field just south of the prehistoric settlement of Motta Vallac, just off one of the main transalpine transport routes. This area was not originally part of the planned excavation site, but became known to the team through the alert of a volunteer metal detectorist who had been involved in a large-scale survey of the local landscape.

In 2008, a military camp was discovered in the area, which has been a rich source of ancient weapons and other wartime equipment, including over 100 sling bullets and a beautifully decorated dagger. This latest research project on the Roman countryside in the Alps, named “CVMBAT”, was initiated in 2020 and is ongoing. An exhibition and a publication presenting the discoveries of archaeologists are expected in 2026.

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