Archaeologists have uncovered a roughly 2,000-year-old Roman settlement in southern Switzerland, revealing a large building, an ancient road and evidence of metalworking and agricultural activity. The discovery was made in the Stramonte area of Ligornetto, in Switzerland’s Ticino canton. Archaeologists began excavating the site in June ahead of construction of a new residential building.
The Archaeological Service of the Cultural Heritage Office is leading the excavation, which covers about 500 square meters (5,380 square feet). The find adds to evidence of the Roman presence in Switzerland, where excavations have revealed settlements, roads and other traces of life under Roman rule.
Roman settlement developed over an earlier site
The oldest remains found at Stramonte date to the final decades B.C. Archaeologists identified traces of wooden structures, showing that people occupied the area before construction of the later Roman building. During the second century A.D., workers leveled the ground and constructed a substantial masonry structure.
Archaeologists have identified six rooms so far. The building measures about 8 meters (26 feet) wide and at least 11 meters (36 feet) long. It continues beyond the western boundary of the excavation, meaning its full size remains unknown.
A portico about 3 meters (10 feet) wide faced a small road on the southern side. Archaeologists have uncovered similar evidence of Roman infrastructure in Switzerland, including a well-preserved Roman road at Kaiseraugst.
Between the second and third centuries A.D., occupants altered the building by adding dividing walls and constructing a platform from reused bricks. A major fire brought its use to an end during the third century. The blaze caused the brick roof to collapse and left large amounts of charcoal behind.
Metalworking evidence offers clues about Roman life
Archaeologists have not yet determined the building’s exact purpose. The absence of fireplaces and other features associated with domestic life makes residential use less likely. However, researchers found unusually large amounts of iron slag and bronze-working waste in layers dating to the second and third centuries. The evidence suggests significant metalworking took place nearby.
Behind the building, archaeologists also found postholes from lightweight structures and a small path built with reused bricks. The surrounding land appears to have supported both craft and agricultural activities.
Bronze peacock brooch found at Roman site
Among the smaller finds is a bronze animal-shaped fibula, or brooch, dating to the second or third century A.D. Archaeologists believe it probably depicts a peacock.
Animal-shaped brooches were worn across the Roman world, including by soldiers and local populations in Roman provinces. The peacock also carried symbolic meaning in Roman culture and was closely associated with Juno, the Roman goddess of marriage and wife of Jupiter. However, archaeologists have not linked the Ligornetto brooch to religious activity, and its meaning to the person who wore it remains unknown.
The small object provides a more personal glimpse of the people connected with the site. Unlike the walls, roads and industrial waste, the brooch was an item someone could have worn on their clothing nearly 1,800 years ago.
Ligornetto has a long history of occupation
The settlement lies in an area with a long history of occupation. Archaeological evidence around Ligornetto dates to at least the second century B.C. and continues into the Early Middle Ages.
During Roman times, Ligornetto and the wider Mendrisiotto region were influenced by the urban centers of Como and Milan. The excavation also lies less than a kilometer from the Roman villa of San Pietro di Stabio. Archaeologists expect to complete work at Stramonte in fall 2026. The discoveries could provide a clearer picture of economic activity and everyday life in Roman-era southern Switzerland.
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