As part of a major construction project, the Cantonal Archaeology of Aargau carried out a rescue excavation between early May 2024 and the end of March 2025. This significantly expanded the knowledge about the lower town of Kaiseraugst, the ancient Augusta Raurica, the best-preserved Roman city north of the Alps founded in the summer of 44 BCE on the southern bank of the Rhine, near the present-day city of Basel in northern Switzerland.

The construction project plans the development of two previously undeveloped plots in Kaiseraugst, with three multi-family buildings that will share a common parking garage and a basement.

In relation to the ancient setting, the plots are located in the lower town of Augusta Raurica. To the north of one of the plots are also Late Roman-era burials, part of an extensive burial ground.

Roman road Switzerland
There were several shafts in the rear courtyards of the Roman strip housing development. Credit: Kanton Aargau

In light of the upcoming construction project, the plots were already investigated in 2019 using geophysical methods without soil intervention, and were surveyed in 2021 and 2023. Thanks to these findings, the emergency excavation could be meticulously planned.

Furthermore, thanks to the cooperation of the construction property owner, it was possible to adapt the planned excavation according to the survey results in order to preserve the Late Roman burials to the north.

In the excavation area of approximately 1,800 m², a segment of a Roman street with adjacent buildings and their backyards was documented. This allowed for valuable insights into the urban structure and parceling of this neighborhood. The Roman street was renovated several times and eventually reached nearly 4 meters in width, flanked on both sides by ditches and porticus (columned porticoes).

The excavation team managed to fully exhume a large building with a stone basement and partially another one with a basement. The underground structures were especially well-preserved and, in some cases, yielded numerous finds.

Roman road Switzerland
Small panther statuette was a surprising find. Credit: Römerstadt Augusta Raurica

Surprisingly, simpler post constructions were identified on some plots, showing that not all were occupied by stone buildings. Due to their elongated rectangular floor plan, internal division, and backyards, all the structures are interpreted as strip houses.

In the courtyards, several dry masonry wells and pits were discovered. The function of these wells (as latrines or for storage) still needs to be investigated. Additionally, several infant burials were documented both inside the buildings and in the courtyards.

It was common in Roman times to bury deceased infants at home rather than in cemeteries. These graves reflect the care for the deceased and show the high infant mortality rate of the time.

Occupation of this neighborhood began at the end of the 1st century CE and ended during the 3rd century CE. Late antique use of the area is evidenced by numerous coins and Late Roman objects. Among the finds are: a bronze figurine of a panther, a votive altar made of tuff, and a glass spindle whorl of mosaic. These objects are rare.

SOURCES

Kanton Aargau

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