Roman Cargo from 1st Century AD Discovered in Lake Neuchâtel with Over 1,000 Artifacts

In March 2026, it was revealed that a Roman cargo shipment dating from 20-50 AD had been unearthed from Lake Neuchâtel, Switzerland, during excavations conducted in 2025 and 2026. The discovery site was pinpointed in November 2024 through aerial photography. More than 1,000 artifacts were collected by the Office of Cantonal Archaeology of Neuchâtel, the Octopus Foundation, and the Archaeological Service of Fribourg. The recovered items include ceramics, amphorae, tools, chariot wheels, and metal objects such as gladius-type swords and a fibula from the era of Emperor Tiberius. Thanks to lake sediments, these items are well-preserved and are currently undergoing restoration at the Laténium museum, with an exhibition set for 2027 and ongoing research to explore the shipwreck and Roman trade routes.