An important milestone in the history of Augusta Raurica, the signing of the Roman Treaty lays the foundation for the preservation, research and mediation of the unique heritage of Augusta Raurica and marks the beginning of a long and successful collaboration across cantonal borders.

Today, it is hard to imagine the foresight that went into this groundbreaking decision – it continues to shape our joint cultural activities to this day.

The treaty was much more than an administrative act. The collection, archive, excavation documentation and research on Augusta Raurica were brought together in one place for the first time, catalogued according to uniform standards and made accessible to science and the public as a whole. Without it, the archaeological site would probably appear today as a scattered collection of fragments – divided between cantonal jurisdictions – and would not be perceived as a coherent cultural space with national appeal.

The Roman Treaty was a clear commitment by the region to its shared responsibility for its cultural heritage. It laid the foundation for excavations, museums and research to no longer rely on private initiatives. The whole project was conceived on a larger scale. This opened up opportunities for a wide range of institutional relationships – for example, cooperation with the museums in Basel, access to documents in the Basel-Stadt State Archives and the University Library, the presentation of collections in the Basel Historical Museum, and close partnerships with the archaeological service of Basel-Stadt and tourism organisations in the region.

Without the Roman Treaty, the success story of Augusta Raurica as we know it today would not exist.