How many things do we still have to learn about our history? Probably a lot, as evidenced by the findings we often talk about and which often make us dream, precisely because they are sensational and at the same time almost accidental. 

The man who, in Switzerland, went looking for precious objects with his metal detector and found himself in front of a real treasure, the kind that seems to take us back in a flash to eras we think are gone, but which are actually alive and present are, right under the ground where we walk. The amateur archaeologist came across a ceramic vase with a very special content: it contained almost 1,300 precious coins, dating from Roman times!


A truly sensational discovery that took place in Bubendorf, Switzerland. In this town in the canton of Basel-Landschaft, with a population of just over 4,400, Daniel Ludin decided to explore an area that he believed could hide surprises. So, after grabbing his trusty metal detector, he began searching a wooded area near a medieval castle, only to discover he wasn't wrong. 

The metal detector began to emit strong signals, a clear sign that something was waiting to be found down there. It was enough to dig a little to find out: the ground concealed a ceramic vase containing 1,290 Roman coins, dating from the time of Emperor Constantine, who reigned from 306 to 337 AD.


It's not hard to imagine anyone's surprise at a similar find. It took Lundin a while to realize that he was facing something very important. So he immediately contacted Archeology Baselland, the organization that deals with ancient finds in the Basel area. Thus, the archaeologists professionally retrieved the vase and coins, escorted by Lundin to the exact place where he had found them. Once in the lab, they carefully analyzed and dated them.


These precious objects, made of an alloy of copper and silver, were most likely struck in a period from 332 to 335 AD. It's unclear why they were buried there, but experts believe they may have been part of a religious sacrifice. Moreover, according to what Swiss archaeologists have reported, the amount would correspond to about double the salary received by a legionnaire in a month at the time.


It is really fascinating to wonder about the history of these objects and why they were found in that particular place. Pending more information, we can only make assumptions. A shrine? A temple? We don't know, but it sure is amazing to think how many treasures could be hidden around us.