In Cham, a municipality in canton Zug, walls from a Roman building complex constructed around 2000 years ago were found in a gravel pit. The discovery is "a sensation," according to the canton's Office for Historical Monuments and Archaeology in canton Zug.

The discovery of the 2000-year-old Roman wall in canton Zug is "a sensation", says the Office for Historical Monuments and Archaeology. © Keystone / Urs Flueeler

Since there are so few known Roman artifacts in the Alps' foothills, this find is "extraordinary." According to Gishan Schaeren of the cantonal archaeology office on Tuesday, the previous discovery of this kind in canton Zug was almost a century ago.

The complex is estimated to have a 500 square meter footprint. Only a few centimeters of ground were below the walls. Plaster wall remnants were also discovered by the archaeologists.

There were found common items such bowls, millstones, glass jars, crockery, and amphorae. The experts also found a significant number of iron nails and a piece of gold that might have been a piece of jewelry.

According to Kathrin Rüedi of the Historical Monuments and Archaeology Service, "At the moment, we're wondering what was used for this complex of buildings." It might have been a temple, a villa, or an inn. This question might be resolved by additional study.