Roman amphora containing sardines discovered in Switzerland – The

A Roman amphora containing the remains of tiny sardine bones has been discovered in Gbenstorf, Switzerland. This is the first archaeological evidence that sardines were eaten in Roman Switzerland.

The amphora is a fragment found in the ruins of a Roman complex on the Limmat River. Three large buildings have been discovered during a rescue dig ahead of construction of a housing development. The complex is located almost exactly one Roman mile (2.2 km, 1.4 mi) from the legionary camp of Vendonissa. The first large timber and clay buildings were built in the first century AD on a deliberately level hill. Discoveries associated with the building indicate that it was a warehouse used to store goods transported across the river to the legionary camp. The ruins are well preserved, with parts of the rammed earth walls and the frescoes that decorated them surviving.

The building to the west is a two-aisled hall with a portico (covered arcade) in front. The central building features a portico, a covered walkway mostly sunk into the ground, a common feature of Roman forums (marketplaces). The east side has a complex building plan with multiple rooms, entrances, corridors and courtyards. This distinguishes it significantly from the other two large structures. The south ends of all three structures are outside the excavation area and may still remain beneath current state roads. Therefore, the site on the Limmat River may have been not only a trading center, but also a political and legal center, and possibly even a planned urban settlement.

Thousands of broken amphorae fragments from Italy, southern France and Spain were found, confirming the building’s role in transporting and storing goods. Three stones used in Roman scales and ten plumb bobs, a small folding ruler and writing pen were also discovered during the excavation, underscoring the commercial and administrative use of the building. Evidence from the complex suggests that Vindonissa’s regiment built and operated a The transfer station has provided its own supplies for about 50 years. When the 11th Legion retreated in AD 101, the complex was deliberately demolished to its foundations and never rebuilt.

The excavation ended in May, but researchers are still studying the recovered archaeological material. Among the broken amphora fragments, the team found an intact amphora. Although in pieces, they remain in place rather than scattered. Off-white sediments are visible in the amphora. The entire object was recovered in its entirety and transported to the State Archaeological Restoration Laboratory, where sediments were collected and sent to the University of Basel for analysis.

Strain the sediment through several fine sieves. What remains are the small bones of sea animals that were once contained in the liquid contained in the amphora. This liquid is fish sauce, one of the most popular condiments of ancient times. It is mentioned in ancient texts by various names such as flos liquamen, (h)alec, muria, salsamenta, and perhaps most famously, garum. These terms refer to different qualities of fish sauce.

The bones are primarily the remains (bones, scales, vertebrae) of sardines (also known as Atlantic sardines or European sardines). This marine fish has a relatively wide distribution and is found in the Northeast Atlantic and Mediterranean Sea. Sardines form very large schools near the coast and are still an important food fish. The remains of the amphora come from very small specimens, less than ten centimeters in length. This is the first evidence of sardine remains from a Roman-era site in Switzerland. […]

Because the amphora themselves could also provide clues about their origin, amphora experts from the state archeology department examined the fragments. Based on the quality of the clay, the amphorae and the fish sauce they contained were most likely produced on the coast of the Roman province of Betika (today’s Andalusia). However, the possibility of an origin in Gaul (the area around present-day Lyon) cannot be completely ruled out. The amphorae and their contents were probably made and traded between about 25 and 50 AD – a comparison of their shapes suggests this.