2,000-Year-Old Roman Bridge Unearthed in Switzerland’s Canton of Bern!
Archaeologists in Switzerland have uncovered the remains of a Roman bridge that once spanned the River Zihl in Aegerten, Canton of Bern. The discovery was made during modern construction works, which revealed more than 300 remarkably well-preserved oak piles buried in the old riverbed’s waterlogged soil.
Photo Credit: Archaeological Service of the Canton of Bern, Joel Furrer
The bridge was part of the Roman Jura Transversal, a key transport corridor linking waterways and land routes across the Swiss Plateau and through the Jura mountains to Augusta Raurica, one of the oldest Roman settlements on the Rhine. Its location was no accident. It stood just outside Petinesca (modern-day Studen), a Roman station settlement that supported travellers journeying between Aventicum, Vindonissa, and Rome’s northern frontier.
Dendrochronological analysis shows that the earliest version of the bridge was built around 40 BCE, shortly after Rome’s conquest of the Helvetii, a Celtic confederation that had dominated the region. The structure remained in use for centuries, undergoing repairs and reconstructions until at least CE 369, during Emperor Valentinian’s reign, when Rome strengthened its northern defences against increasing Germanic incursions.
Photo Credit: Archaeological Service of the Canton of Bern, Joel Furrer
The discovery of the oak piles adds to earlier evidence of Roman activity along the river. Around forty years ago, military structures were identified on both banks of the Zihl, which helped guide today’s excavations when new construction broke ground. Archaeologists seized opportunities in the building schedule to carefully document the remains, take samples for analysis, and recover artefacts, all without holding up the project.
Excavations have so far revealed a wealth of everyday objects once linked to the bridge and its travellers. Finds include hobnails from soldiers’ sandals, horseshoes, harness fittings, axes, coins, keys, and even a fishing trident. Many of these appear to have been deliberately thrown into the water, possibly as offerings, while others may simply have been lost in transit.
Photo Credit: Archaeological Service of the Canton of Bern, Joel Furrer
Among the most striking discoveries is a large carpenter’s plane, carved from a single block of wood with an iron blade inserted. Measuring 41 cm long, 7 cm wide, and 5 cm high, it was astonishingly well preserved thanks to the damp, oxygen-poor soil. Together with the other finds, it paints a vivid picture of life on the Roman roads: of craftsmen, soldiers, merchants, and travellers crossing this vital bridge.
The Roman bridge at Aegerten was more than just a crossing. For over 400 years, it played a crucial role in connecting settlements and sustaining Rome’s presence north of the Alps. As conservation and analysis continue, experts hope the finds will reveal fresh insights into Roman engineering, infrastructure, and the daily lives of those who moved through this crossroads of empire.