Amazing discovery: Thousands of Roman artifacts pulled from Swiss lake

Zurich, April 12 - In Lake Neuchatel, Switzerland, archaeologists have discovered the exceptionally preserved cargo of a Roman ship from the period between 20 and 50 AD. More than a thousand ceramic objects, weapons and other artifacts were found below the surface. As euronews.com reports, the discovery was kept secret for a long time to prevent looting.

Divers Fabien Langenegger and Julien Pfyffer came across the find, who initially assumed that it was the remains of mines from World War II. "When I turned on the light on the camera, the typical terracotta color appeared. That's when we realized that this was an exceptional discovery," Pfyffer described.

The research was initiated by drone footage that showed a dark spot on the bottom of the lake. Subsequent research campaigns in 2025 and 2026 yielded extensive results - archaeologists uncovered the cargo, probably of a merchant ship headed for a Roman military camp.

Among the finds are kitchen containers made in what is now Switzerland, with one box dating back to 17 AD. Scientists are even analyzing food remains preserved inside the pottery.

In addition to the usual cargo, military items were also discovered, including two gladiator swords, a dagger, and a belt buckle. This suggests that the ship may have been accompanied by Roman legionaries and supplied a unit of approximately 6,000 soldiers.

Also of interest is a wicker basket, which was preserved thanks to the specific conditions of the lake. It contained simpler ceramics and probably also the crew's supplies, which provides a unique insight into everyday life on board.

SITA/WT.24