A recent discovery in the Swiss Alps has intrigued archaeologists and the public alike. A mysterious bamboo cart, resembling a two-wheeled wagon, was found on November 2 by hiker Sergio Veri along a glacier path in Splügen Pass, located in the Canton of Graubünden.
This high-altitude pass connects Switzerland’s Hinterrhein valley with Italy’s Valle San Giacomo. The cart was revealed by the melting of a glacier, one of the many instances where climate change has exposed relics and artifacts previously buried under snow and ice.
The bamboo contraption consists of two large wheels crafted from bamboo poles, tied together with cords. Experts have dated it to the 20th century based on preliminary assessments, but its origins and function remain unclear. Given that bamboo is not native to Switzerland—it only arrived in Europe in the late 1700s or early 1800s—the use of this material adds a layer of mystery to the object.
The Archaeological Service of Graubünden has yet to conduct a full examination, and officials have requested help from the public, encouraging anyone with information about the cart’s purpose or construction to come forward.
Since the Canton of Graubünden posted about the find on social media, speculation has been rife. Comments on the Facebook post suggest the item could have been used as a sled for transporting goods or even as a tool for smuggling supplies. One commenter hypothesized it might have been an early mountaineering device, while another speculated it could have been part of a primitive airplane. The Splügen Pass itself has a rich history; dating back to ancient times, it has long served as a trade route, as shown on historical documents like the Roman Tabula Peutingeriana.
This discovery follows a similar find earlier this year by the Secrets of the Ice project, which uncovered a 20th-century sled on the Cavagnöö Glacier. The exposure of these items has become increasingly common as glaciers continue to recede due to rising global temperatures.
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Really enjoy these new exposures to these discoveries.
Dated to the 20th century….so as in the century I was born?
Did I miss something here? They said and meant 20th century? Why would it be strange to build a 20th century cart out of bamboo that only arrived in that part of Europe in the 1700’s and 1800’s? The the 18th and 19th centuries?
I’m confused. The article states that bamboo arrived in the 18th to early 19th century and the artifact is dated to the 20th century. So someone in the 1900s made a wagon out of a material that had been around for around a century. Where is the mystery in that?
I remember the 20th Century life it was yesterday.
I don’t understand why a 20th century bamboo “anything” would be mysterious.
Thank you for your comments. What makes this discovery mysterious is not the age of the cart itself, but rather the unknown purpose behind its creation and the reasons it was abandoned in such an unusual location.