The Roman Road Neckar-Alb-Aare

Die Römerstrasse Neckar-Alb-Aare. Foto: www.roemerstrasse.net

15 July 2021

Available in German (Die Römerstrasse Neckar-Alb-Aare) and Dutch.

Swiss Amber

21 June 2021

The Greeks, Romans, Celtic and other European peoples highly valued amber, a precious stone. Archaeological amber finds are made throughout Europe. The finds date from the older Stone Age ( c .10000-4000 BC), the later Stone Age (c. 4000-1800 BC), the Bronze Age (c. 1800-500 BC) and Greek and Roman times. The Roman (provincial) elite … Read more » “Swiss Amber”

The Romanisation of Vaud

L´amphithéatre d´Avenches el le château médiéval du 13e siècle à l'arrière-plan. Photo: TES.

9 January 2021

During two centuries of Roman peace—the “Pax Romana”—and domination, the area of the Canton of Vaud was Romanised. The Celtic population adopted the Roman way of life, the Latin language and customs. One of the most important contributions was urbanisation. The Celtic settlements, known as oppida (singular: oppidum), developed into cities or new towns that were … Read more » “The Romanisation of Vaud”

The Roman Army Camp Vindonissa

Kasernegebäude im Legionslager Vindonissa. Foto: TES,

20 July 2020

Available in German, French and Dutch

Almost all roads led to Aventicum in Roman Switzerland

Martigny, Via Roma-Aventicum-Londinum, Photo: TES

20 June 2020

Aventicum (Avenches) was the capital of the Helvetian territory (Civitas Helvetiorum), which was annexed to the Roman Empire around 15 BC. At the time, it was one of Switzerland’s most important cities. Avenches, today a small medieval town, was the political and administrative centre of Roman Helvetia and had approximately 20,000 inhabitants at its peak. … Read more » “Almost all roads led to Aventicum in Roman Switzerland”

Switzerland and the Roman Empire

Swiss territory and Roman provinces 14 AD. Marc Zanoli. Photo: Wikipedia.

20 April 2020

Celtic tribes inhabited the territory of present-day Switzerland before the conquest in the last decade of the 1st century BC. The Romans occupied Genava (Geneva), the town of the Allobroges, in 120 BC. Geneva became part of the Roman province of Gallia Transalpina, which included the present-day provinces of Languedoc-Roussillon, Alpes-Côte d’Azur, and Rhône-Alpes, except … Read more » “Switzerland and the Roman Empire”

The Celts in Switzerland

Keltisches Schiff Neuenburger See, 1. Jhr. v. Chr. Laténium Museum Hauterive. Foto: TES.

13 April 2020

Greek and Roman authors used the Celts (Galatoi, Keltoi, Galli, Celtae) to refer to the tribes that inhabited much of Europe, including Ireland and the British Isles. However, the Celts never had political unity. Their economic activities included agriculture, handicrafts, trade, and cattle breeding. The period of the pre-Roman Iron Age, the La Tène period … Read more » “The Celts in Switzerland”

Lake Dwellings Museum

Lake dwellings (replica's), Latenium Neuchâtel. Photo: TES.

6 March 2020

The Society for Lake Dwelling Archaeology and Regional Ethnology was founded in 1922 and manages the  Lake Dwelling Museum in Unteruhldingen (Germany). The Society studies the prehistory in the Lake Constance area and the archaeology of lake dwellings. Lake dwellings are a phenomenon that continues to surprise scholars and the public. Most lake dwellings exist … Read more » “Lake Dwellings Museum”

Pile Dwellings in Switzerland

Hauterive, Laténium. Photo: www.latenium.ch

4 December 2019

Around one thousand pile dwellings are known in six countries (Switzerland, Austria, France, Germany, Italy, and Slovenia). A UNESCO project comprises a selection of 111 archaeological pile dwelling sites. The project reveals the remains of prehistoric pile-dwelling settlements dating from 5,000 to 500 BC, which are situated underwater, on lake shores, along rivers, or in … Read more » “Pile Dwellings in Switzerland”

The Celtic Oppidum on Mont Vully

Maquette de l'oppidum Mont Vully. Photo: www.aventicum.org.

26 November 2019

Available in French, German and Dutch.