Archaeologists in Switzerland have discovered a stunning Roman shipwreck in Lake Neuchâtel. The site is an unexpected treasure trove of maritime trade from the first century. According to Swiss state media, the site was discovered in 2024 when drone photography revealed the location, and excavated by the Cantonal Office of Archeology (OARC) in March 2025. Over 600 artifacts were recovered from the site, notably hundreds of intact ceramic vessels and amphorae for the transport of Spanish olive oil. Another unique aspect of this shipwreck site includes the presence of military equipment, such as two complete gladi (short swords), which indicates that this was a civilian merchant ship, provided military escort by the Army of the Pacific. Therefore, this shipwreck site helps to fill the gap in knowledge of the combined land and sea routes that formed the connection between the Mediterranean Sea and the Roman borders north of the Alps.
Discovery and excavation of a 2,000-year-old Roman shipwreck in Lake Neuchâtel, Switzerland
Identification of the Roman shipwreck began in 2024 through the use of high-definition drone photographs, which identified the outline of a ship beneath the lacustrine sediment layer. Following the aerial discovery, the Cantonal Office for Archeology (OARC) conducted a formal underwater excavation of the site in March 2025. The work was accomplished by a collaborative team consisting of professional divers and marine archaeologists, who completed 3D photogrammetry mapping of the site and collected delicate archaeological material. This ‘time capsule’ has remained intact for up to 2,000 years, having been preserved in specific lacustrine sediments, preventing the organic and metal structures from being exposed to oxygen and deteriorating.
Goods and supplies found on 2,000-year-old Roman shipwreck
The archaeological site has yielded an unprecedented number of artefacts (over 600), the most important of which are hundreds of complete ceramics and amphorae. As written in Swiss state media, scientific analysis of the soil and remains of these ceramic containers has confirmed that they were used to transport olive oil from present-day Baetica, Spain. The presence of these ceramics in a Swiss lake highlights the wide geographical reach of the Roman logistics system, showing that ‘liquid gold’ from the Mediterranean Sea was widely available to settlers and soldiers in the far northern Alpine regions. The large number of ceramic vessels found, as well as the diversity of forms, suggests that there was a highly organized supply chain, catering to the tastes of the Roman inhabitants and their army stationed in the region.
Military evidence inside 2,000-year-old Roman shipwreck
A highly significant find at the shipwreck site is military equipment, notably two complete gladi (Roman short swords). According to the Octopus Foundation, these gladiators are believed to represent a merchant ship with no military purpose being escorted by a military detachment. During the first century AD, internal unrest and piracy could disrupt the shipping of valuable goods such as olive oil across vast areas of land. The discovery establishes the physical presence of the Roman government as part of a security apparatus, providing military protection for the Roman Empire’s commercial interests and means of transportation of goods essential to the economy.
As a center for Roman shipwrecks intermodal trade
The wreck is one of several examining the Roman Empire’s ‘intermodal’ transport system, where goods were moved by sea, rivers and land. According to research published in ResearchGate, Lake Neuchâtel played a major role as an inland distribution point connecting the Rhone and Rhine rivers. Researchers examining the location of cargo at this site will ultimately provide a clearer picture of the combined use of land and water routes to support the activities of the Roman Empire north of the Alps. The discovery also confirms that the Swiss Plateau was not a remote outpost, but a bustling corridor of international commercial activity and integrated into the broader Mediterranean economy.