A team of archaeologists from the University of Basel, in collaboration with the Archaeological Service of Graubünden, has unearthed the remains of a previously unknown Roman military camp in the Colm la Runga corridor of Switzerland’s Oberhalbstein Alps.

Roman military camp site in the Swiss Alps. Credit: Andrea Badrutt / Chur

The project, which began in 2021, aimed to study an ancient Roman battlefield in the Canton of Graubünden. The site, located approximately 3,000 feet below Colm la Runga near the Crap Ses Gorge, was known to be the scene of a battle in 15 BCE between Roman forces and the local Suanetes tribe, identified as Raeti by the Roman author Pliny. Over the past few years, archaeologists, university students, and volunteers have been exploring this battlefield, uncovering a wealth of artifacts, including lead sling bullets, spearheads, and an exceptional silver and brᴀss dagger.

In the fall of 2023, a volunteer detectorist, utilizing high-resolution digital terrain models provided by Swisstopo, discovered unusual terrain structures at the peak of Colm la Runga, about 7,218 feet above sea level. Using Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR), a remote sensing technique that employs laser pulses to measure distances to the Earth’s surface, the volunteer detected man-made ditches and ramparts hidden beneath the surface. Subsequent geophysical surveys and excavations confirmed that these structures were part of a fortified Roman military camp dating back approximately 2,000 years.

The newly discovered camp, fortified with three ditches and a rampart, occupied a strategic position on Colm la Runga, offering a panoramic view of the surrounding valleys, including the Landwᴀsser Valley, Albula Valley, Domleschg, and Surses. This location would have provided the Roman military with an excellent vantage point to monitor and control key mountain pᴀsses, including Lenzerheide, which was an important pᴀssage at the time. According to researchers, the camp’s location suggests it played a crucial role in the Roman strategy to secure the Alps, a region considered essential for the security of northern Italy.

Test pit to confirm LiDAR data. Credit: Andrea Badrutt / Chur

The excavation of the camp has so far revealed various artifacts and equipment belonging to Roman soldiers, including slingsH๏τs and shoe nails. Notably, some of the sling bullets bear the stamp of the 3rd Legion, which also participated in the battle at Crap Ses Gorge alongside the 10th and 12th Legions. These findings indicate a close connection between the ancient battlefield and the newly discovered camp, suggesting that Roman forces may have established the camp as part of their broader campaign to conquer the region.

“The discovery of the Roman military camp at Colm la Runga allows us to precisely trace the advance of Roman forces over 2,000 years ago from Bergell over the Septimer Pᴀss to the Tiefencastel area and onward toward Chur and the Alpine Rhine Valley,” said a representative from the University of Basel. This advancement highlights the significant role that such camps played in the Roman military’s efforts to consolidate control over newly conquered territories.

Following the initial surveys and documentation in July 2024, students from the University of Basel, along with volunteer prospectors, are conducting further research on the ditch-and-wall system and the structures within the camp. This phase of the research, running from August 11 to 31, 2024, aims to provide more insights into the camp’s layout and the Roman military’s presence in the region.

The discovery of the Roman camp at Colm la Runga is a significant milestone in the ongoing archaeological exploration of “Roman Switzerland,” revealing new facets of Roman military history and strategy.

Canton of Graubünden