In 15 BC, Roman Emperor Augustus aimed to conquer Germania, but first, he had to secure the direct route north through the Alps. Despite its importance, little was known about this campaign until researchers uncovered an ancient battlefield – and the highest military camp of the Roman Empire - in the Swiss canton of Grisons.
A team of archaeologists worked with forensic and ballistics experts to reconstruct the campaign, revealing for the first time the route and the weapons used. A surprising discovery was the usage of lead sling-bullets to neutralise the enemy from a distance. The findings reveal how Roman soldiers overcame harsh mountain conditions in battle and in daily life. In a single summer, the army annexed vast regions of the Alps, which joined the new Raetia province, and remained part of the Roman Empire for 400 years.
