Liputan6.com, Jakarta - Archaeologists in Switzerland were recently surprised by the discovery of a 2,000-year-old Roman cargo at the bottom of Lake Neuchâtel.
This discovery, which was first made public in late March 2026, is considered a truly unique event, not only in Switzerland but also throughout the region north of the Alps.
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The richness and diversity of the artifacts discovered offer a new window into understanding life in the early Roman Empire.
This historic cargo includes hundreds of intact ceramic vessels, military weapons, transportation equipment, and even kitchen utensils, all in remarkably good condition.
Multiple organizations, including the Archaeological Office of the Canton of Neuchâtel (OARC) and the Octopus Foundation, are involved.
Surprising Discovery at the Bottom of Lake Neuchâtel
The story of the discovery of this ancient Roman cargo began in November 2024, when a drone photography survey conducted by the Office of Archaeology of the Canton of Neuchâtel (OARC) as part of a lakebed monitoring project accidentally identified the artifacts.
Within days of the initial discovery, maritime archaeologists immediately conducted exploratory dives to confirm the presence of a significant ceramic cargo.
To prevent potential looting, information about the discovery was kept secret for a period.
Initial excavations then began in March 2025, and the team returned to the site in March 2026 to continue more intensive work.
Lake Neuchâtel is an 84-square-mile lake located at the foot of the Jura Mountains in northwestern Switzerland.
The artifacts were found in excellent condition, with many still intact, thanks to the natural protection of the sediments at the bottom of the lake.
Although the ship carrying the cargo has not been found, archaeologists suspect it may have scattered its cargo on the lake bed for unknown reasons, possibly as it approached the entrance to the Thielle Canal, which connects Lake Neuchâtel with Lake Biel.
A Stunning Wealth of Ancient Roman Artifacts
The total number of artifacts recovered is estimated at between 600 and over 1,000, indicating the extraordinary scale of the cargo.
The bulk of the cargo consisted of hundreds of ceramic vessels, including intact plates, bowls, and goblets.
In addition to ceramics, the discovery also included interesting weapons and military equipment, such as two swords (one of which was still in its intact wooden scabbard), a dagger, a belt buckle, a fibula (brooch), and a dolabra (adze).
The presence of these military items indicates that the ship was likely escorted by Roman legionaries, perhaps from the Legio XIII Gemina, stationed at the Vindonissa camp (modern Windisch) in 16 AD.
Kitchen utensils were also found, including a well-preserved woven basket containing six different ceramic pieces, likely belonging to sailors, as well as metal tools such as bronze cauldrons and crucibles.
Dating Measurement
Dendrochronological dating of wooden planks found among the cargo indicates that the material dates back to at least 17 AD.
Furthermore, the style of the fibula brooch discovered only begins to appear in the archaeological record during the reign of Tiberius, between 14 and 37 AD.
Based on this evidence, archaeologists believe the ship sank between 20 and 50 AD, during the early period of the Roman Empire.
This complex discovery and excavation is the result of a close collaboration between the Archaeological Office of the Canton of Neuchâtel (OARC), the Octopus Foundation, and the Fribourg State Archaeological Service.
The Octopus Foundation has been actively working on Lake Neuchâtel since 2018, focusing on the study of shipwrecks threatened by underwater erosion, thus having relevant experience in this type of project.
After being studied and conserved, the artifacts are planned to be exhibited at the Laténium, Switzerland's largest archaeological museum, located in Neuchâtel.