A major archaeological dig in northern Switzerland has revealed a well-preserved stretch of an ancient Roman road and a rare bronze panther figurine, shedding new light on daily life in the Roman city of Augusta Raurica, founded nearly 2,000 years ago near today’s German border.

Excavation linked to upcoming housing project

The excavation, which lasted from May 2024 to March 2025, was carried out in advance of a residential development featuring three apartment buildings and an underground garage. The site lies within the lower town of Augusta Raurica, one of the best-preserved Roman settlements north of the Alps, established in 44 BC near present-day Basel.

In addition to the road, archaeologists uncovered Late Roman graves just north of the development area, indicating part of a larger cemetery.

Surveys led to a careful excavation strategy

Prior to excavation, non-invasive surveys were conducted in 2019, with follow-up studies in 2021 and 2023. These early investigations played a key role in shaping a precise and minimally invasive excavation plan. In collaboration with the property owner, construction plans were modified to preserve the nearby burial site.

Roman infrastructure and city layout revealed

A nearly four-meter-wide Roman road, complete with drainage ditches and flanked by colonnaded walkways, emerged from the dig. The road had been repeatedly repaired and widened, offering a vivid picture of Roman urban infrastructure.

Adjacent to the road, several structures came to light, including a large stone building with a preserved basement and part of a house. Excavations also revealed simpler wooden structures, likely strip houses—long, narrow homes built side by side along the street, a common Roman housing style.

Infant burials and wells found in courtyards

Within the courtyard areas, archaeologists discovered multiple stone-lined pits and wells. Ongoing analysis aims to determine whether they served as storage or latrines. Several infant graves were also documented, both within and near the homes—typical for Roman-era burials, when infants were often laid to rest in domestic settings due to high infant mortality and prevailing customs.

Exceptional finds include a bronze panther and mosaic glass

The site was continuously occupied from the late 1st to the 3rd century CE, with traces of later Roman activity indicated by numerous coins and artefacts. Among the most notable discoveries were a small bronze panther figurine, a votive altar carved from soft stone, and a colorful glass spindle whorl crafted using mosaic techniques.

These rare objects offer an interesting glimpse into the lives, beliefs, and skills of Augusta Raurica’s past inhabitants.