Archaeologists find unexpected structure hiding for 2,000 years 7,000 feet high in Swiss Alps
&imwidth=600&imheight=450&format=webp&quality=medium "Archaeologists find unexpected structure hiding for 2,000 years 7,000 feet high in Swiss Alps")
Roman military camp found in Swiss Alps. Photograph: (Unsplash)
The Roman military camp survived for over 2,000 years, and no one even knew that it existed all this time. Archaeologists studying Roman history in Switzerland were surprised that they had fortified a region so high above the ground.
Archaeologists exploring Roman history in Switzerland have discovered a 2,000-year-old Roman military camp located 7,000 feet above sea level. According to a translated statement from the Canton of Graubünden, the Roman military camp strategically sat at high ground to let the troops keep a watch on valleys and mountain passes, regions that would otherwise be hard to observe. What remains of the camp are ditches and a wall. But the clearest sign was lead sling bullets with the stamp of the Roman 3rd Legion. Researchers from the University of Basel, along with the Graubünden Archaeological Service, had been scanning the Crap Ses area between Cunter and Tiefencastel since 2021. They knew about the Roman battlefield in the Oberhalbstein Alps, but stumbled upon something unexpected when a volunteer noticed something unbelievable.
Romans in Switzerland
The Romans found "a striking terrain structure in the Colm la Runga corridor" located 3,000 feet above the battlefield. The researchers used a high-resolution digital terrain model and LiDAR data to investigate the high area and saw that this particular portion was fortified. Sitting 7,000 feet above sea level in the Swiss Alps, the Roman military camp was fortified by three ditches and a wall with ramparts. It let them observe enemy movement from high above the ground. They could also observe four key valleys - Landwassertal, Albulatal, Domleschg, and Surses - and Lenzerheide, a heavily travelled mountain passageway.
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Weapons matched the age of the Roman battlefield
The volunteers were joined by students to study the military camp in August. They found weapons like lead sling bullets and boot nails. and equipment belonging to Roman soldiers. The stamp of the 3rd Legion on the slingshot was proof that the camp was linked to the Roman battlefield, which was involved in the battle at Crap Ses. Dating of the weapons showed that they belonged to the same period as the battlefield, both being around 2,000 years old. The researchers called the military camp a "sensational discovery" that shows the Roman forces moved with great precision 2,000 years ago.
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