In the 1960's and 1970's the so-called Second Jura Water Correction took place. It consisted of a series of hydrological undertakings carried out in the region of the three lakes ("Seeland"): Lake Morat connected to Lake Neuchâtel by the Broye Canal, the latter lake connected to Lake Biel by the Thielle Canal. During this work many remains of landing stages, ports, bridges and roads were found.
Map with Roman sites along the Canal de la Broye and the Canal de la Thielle. Schwab 2003, Fig. 1.Particularly noteworthy are remains at the locality Haut-Vully (today Mont Vully) near Môtier, to the north of the Murtensee. In the marshes called Grand Marais a wooden bridge, "pont du Rondet", was discovered. The remains have been known since 1865. Excavations took place in 1877-1878, 1924-1925, and finally in 1963-1964, the latter led by Hanni Schwab.
View of the excavations in the 1960's. Photo: Schwab 2003, Fig. 13.
Plan of the posts. Drack-Fellmann 1988, Abb. 51.
Reconstruction drawing of the bridge. Schwab 2003, Fig. 80.The bridge was part of a road leading from Aventicum (Avenches VD) to the Bielersee, eight meters wide. It spanned the Canal de la Broye, an ancient river course. It was 84 m. long and 7.60 m wide, with six supporting wooden frames made of hundreds of posts, with a diameter of 0.30-0.65 m. To the north was a building that may have been a mansio (stopping place and inn) or a mutatio (place for changing horses). A very large number of objects emerged, including metal and wooden parts of harnesses of animals.
Part of a harness of iron and wood, and its use. Photos: Duvauchelle 2017, Abb. 6-7.Dendrochronology provided accurate dates. The bridge was built under Augustus, in 7-6 BC, and enlarged under Tiberius, in 31 AD. In 229 AD it was reinforced. It was destroyed around 260-270 AD.
Literature
Buchiller 1986; Drack-Fellmann 1988, 535; Drack-Fellmann 1991, 270-271; Schwab 2003, 67-248; Fuchs 2003(2); Duvauchelle 2017.
[19-Nov-2023]
