A long search has finally concluded: Swiss divers have discovered a legendary Roman-era bridge that researchers have been trying to locate for decades. It may be the only pile trestle of its kind that exists.<\/p>\n
As plans were underway to construct a bridge over the Aare River, Swiss archaeologists hired by Cantonal Archaeology conducted routine archaeological investigations in the area near Solothurn, Switzerland, which has long been a subject of interest for archaeologists.<\/p>\n
A bridge pier, known as a pile trestle, was believed to have been built in this location. Archaeologists were eager to investigate due to the area\u2019s \u201cstrategic geography\u201d and \u201cits position along an important transalpine trade and military route.\u201d<\/p>\n
And finally, as construction work would be carried out, archaeologists were hired by Cantonal Archaeology to take the plunge, which they did several times, guided by previous accounts of the presence of \u201cstakes\u201d in the waters. On fins, they came to discover a row of timber piles near Solothurn\u2019s Wengi Bridge.<\/p>\n
The piles, just under 6.56 feet long and arranged in the direction of the current, provided the first physical evidence of a pile trestle ever found. Upon analyzing the wood and remnants of the bridge pier, they confirmed its existence, dated it to the 4th century, and established that it was linked to the city\u2019s development as a castrum, or fortified settlement.<\/p>\n
A major bridge pier <\/p>\n
This long-sought bridge was part of a major road connecting Italy with the Rhine River, according to LBV<\/a>. Sections of this road had already been identified on either side of the river, suggesting that a bridge must have existed to facilitate crossings.<\/p>\n For years, archaeologists contended that the riverbed near Solothurn could contain a pile trestle due to the unique characteristics of this small municipality in Switzerland. The Aare River narrows at a point near the town, which helped archaeologists estimate where the bridge might have been constructed.<\/p>\n Historically, Salodurum is the Latinized version of a Celtic toponym that means \u201criver narrows\u201d or \u201cgateway of the waves.\u201d Until now, no physical evidence had been found, only rumors of \u201cstakes\u201d underwater.<\/p>\n Previously, it was known that the Romans<\/a> settled in this area between the 1st and 3rd centuries. In the 4th century, a defensive wall was constructed in response to instability and military pressures, leading to the fortification of urban settlements. This bridge symbolizes an empire striving to protect itself from its ultimate demise. <\/p>\n A system of defense<\/p>\n A castrum wasn\u2019t a town wall, but rather a system, Arkeonews clarified<\/a>. Solothurn, a picturesque town today, once held strategic importance due to its placement on the Aare. This region was well-developed and interconnected by imperial routes. The Romans<\/a> built this bridge pier to enhance a gateway crucial for preventing significant losses. The settlement lying beneath the Baroque center even reveals how the Romans intentionally selected this spot for its strategic value.<\/p>\n Because the 1,700-year-old wood would decay if exposed to air, the construction project will not disturb the precious timbers submerged in the river, allowing them to remain in their watery grave. They represent the Roman Empire<\/a> at a pivotal time in its history.<\/p>\n