Roman military camp discovered in Swiss Alps – History

The remains of a previously unknown Roman military camp have been discovered at Cormla Longa, 7,218 feet above sea level in the Upper Halbstein Alps in Switzerland. It dates back to the last two decades of the first century B.C.

The camp was built at a time when the Roman legions were fighting to conquer the Swiss Alps, the last region of present-day Switzerland not yet controlled by Rome. Augustus considered control of the Alps essential to the security of northern Italy, and Tiberius accomplished the task.

A battle between the Romans and the local Suanet tribe in 15 BC took place 3,000 feet below the surface at the site of Colmla Longa near the Crapses Gorge, where lead slingshot bullets bearing the markings of the Third, Tenth and Twelfth Legions were found, along with spearheads, brooches, saber spikes and a unique silver and brass dagger.

Archaeologists, supported by volunteer metal detector operators, have been excavating the battlefield since 2021. Cutting-edge LiDAR laser scanning revealed that differences in elevation at Colm la Runga’s terrain suggest the presence of man-made ditches and ramparts. Preliminary excavations of test pits have confirmed these data.

Following geophysical surveys and non-destructive documentation in July 2024, students and volunteer explorers from the University of Basel will study the wall ditch system and the interior structure of the camp from 11 to 31 August 2024. Objects found so far include weapons and equipment of Roman soldiers, including slingshots and shoe spikes. The slingshots found bear the marks of the Third Legion, which also took part in the Battle of Crapsis. It can therefore be assumed that there was a close connection between the ancient battlefield and the newly discovered military camp.

The choice of Colm la Runga for camping was obviously strategic. From here you can have a panoramic view of the most important valleys in the surroundings: Landwassertal, Albulatal, Domleschg and Surses. In addition, you can also have an ideal view of the Lenzerheide, an important crossroad at that time.

The sensational discovery of a Roman camp in Graubünden once again shows that archaeological research into “Roman Switzerland” is still full of surprises. The finds at Corm-la-Longa also have international relevance, as the route of the Roman army’s advance 2,000 years ago can now be traced precisely over several dozen kilometres: from Berger across the Septimel Pass to the Tiefenkastel region and from there towards Chur and the Alpine Rhine Valley.