Archaeologists have discovered a 2.6 thousand-year-old monumental grave in Switzerland.

In the village of Grandvillard, in the Gruyere area, archaeologists have been investigating a railway burial site since 2019. In June 2025, they discovered a stunningly preserved monumental grave. The 10-meter-diameter object contains a burial site, which has been almost completely explored to date. This was reported on December 8 by Arkeonews magazine.

The grave must be completely excavated as soon as possible, as it is under threat of erosion caused by a nearby mountain stream, which is gradually destroying the outer layer of the embankment. Excavations allegedly began in November specifically to preserve these unique remains.

This find is the third large grave discovered in this necropolis. However, according to archaeologists, the preservation of the burial site in Grandvillar is unique. This allows for a more accurate reconstruction of the burial practices of the Iron Age.

Preliminary studies have shown that the buried man was probably an important social figure. Although the full list of items found in the grave has not yet been published, the context of the find suggests that they may be similar to earlier elite burials in the region.

The find may shed light on the social and ecological dynamics of the Intiamon Valley in the Early Iron Age. This period, from about 800 to 450 BC, was marked by climatic changes known as the Cold Period, which greatly affected the social structure and organization.

Periods of environmental stress sometimes coincided with simpler funeral rites, while more prosperous eras were characterized by more complex monumental burials. This leads to the conclusion that the Grandvillar grave probably symbolized the stability of society and the social stratification of that time.

Due to the exceptional preservation of the grave, archaeologists have a unique chance to study the funeral rites in amazing detail.: how the funeral hall was arranged, where the body was located, how the hill itself is arranged and what offerings were made. These data help to better understand the identity, worldview, and social connections of Iron Age society.

Regardless of the fact that the excavations are under threat of destruction, archaeologists carefully and methodically carry out the work. Each layer of photographs, maps and soil samples are recorded in order to fully document the history of the monument before the forces of nature destroy it.

After the excavation is completed, the researchers hope that the data obtained will help to better understand the social hierarchy of the Intiamon Valley and the climate variability that influenced ancient communities.

On December 5, Arkeonews reported the discovery of a cameo depicting a Gorgon Jellyfish in Austria. The find dates back to the II century A.D., its age is approximately 1,9 thousand years. The cameo itself is carved from agate in black and white stripes and was most likely made in the Roman cultural and cultural center of Aquileia in the north of the Adriatic Sea. It is assumed that she could have decorated the necklace of one of the rich Roman women.

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