Roman “place of pilgrimage” in the high Alps?

Roman “place of pilgrimage” in the high Alps?

A Roman coin between stones in the Bernese High Alps. © Archaeological Service of the Canton of Bern, Regula Glatz

Ancient find site of a remote kind: Archaeologists have discovered objects from Roman times on a plateau around 2600 meters high in the Swiss Alps - numerous coins, a bronze votive sheet, rock crystals and other finds. Apparently, these were votive offerings that were dedicated to deities at the presumably holy place in the high alpine scenery, the experts explain.

The site on the Ammertenhorn. © Archaeological Service of the Canton of Bern, Regula Glatz

The history of the discovery of the amazing site at the Ammertenhorn in the municipality of Lenk dates back to the summer of 2020, the Archaeological Service of the Canton of Bern and the Bern Historical Museum report in a joint statement: A hiker discovered an old coin between the stones on the remote high plateau and then informed the Archaeological Service. The research then developed into a complex project: a team of experts took up quarters in tents on the plateau, which is around 2,600 meters above sea level, and systematically examined the area.

offerings to deities

Gradually, an extensive collection of finds came together, according to the statement: The archaeologists discovered around a hundred Roman coins from a wide period of time. The oldest dates from the time of Emperor Tiberius and was minted between 22 and 30 AD. The youngest coin dates from the 4th to 5th centuries. The archaeologists also found a so-called votive sheet made of bronze, as well as 27 rock crystals and other objects.

Votive sheet from the Ammertenhorn. © Archaeological Service of the Canton of Bern, Markus Detmer

But how and why did these objects end up in this remote place? It can be assumed that this was an area of ​​cultic importance, where votive offerings to deities were laid, explains Bernese cantonal archaeologist Adriano Boschetti: "The high plateau between the Ammertenhorn and the sublime Wildstrubel massif, which can be seen from afar, could have been a sacred place . And comparable ensembles of finds are often interpreted as votive offerings,” says Boschetti. This is evidently particularly clear in the case of the votive tin. Because such objects were also found in temples and sanctuaries in the Roman provinces north of the Alps.

Close to the Alpine goddesses?

According to the report, a well-known find from the region already proves that the Alps were of great importance for the local population in Roman times: In 1926, a pedestal for a cult image with an interesting inscription was discovered in the Roman sanctuary of Thun-Allmendingen. It says that this was donated to the Alpine goddesses by the local population. The finds from the Ammertenhorn now shed new light on this well-known find, say the experts.

Apparently there were holy places that were specifically visited not only in Thun-Allmendingen, but also in the high mountains, according to the message. It can be assumed that the believers tried to get in contact with these deities by laying down gifts, for example to appease them, to thank them or to ask them to fulfill a wish.

The votive offerings from the special site are now being presented in the Bernisches Historisches Museum.

Source: Archaeological Service of the Canton of Bern, Bern Historical Museum

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