The Roman Treaty – explained simply
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Origin of the treaty
The construction boom of the 1960s and 1970s and the ancient city's location across cantonal borders led to the signing of the Roman Treaty.
The scope of archaeological work at Augusta Raurica has grown steadily over the decades. In the 1960s and 1970s in particular, intensive construction activity in the region led to a large number of salvage excavations. This development exceeded the human and financial resources of the Pro Augusta Raurica Foundation, which was responsible for the site at the time.
Since its establishment in 1935, the foundation has been solely responsible for the scientific management. The first milestones in public outreach followed in the 1950s with the Roman House and the Roman Museum. As early as 1961, the cantons of Basel-Landschaft and Basel-Stadt had to provide financial assistance. When the Federal Council officially classified Augusta Raurica as a monument of national importance in 1968, it had long been clear that the protection and management of such an important archaeological site required a permanent, state-supported solution and a clearly defined division of responsibilities – especially since Augusta Raurica is located in two cantons, namely Augst in the canton of Basel-Landschaft and Kaiseraugst in the canton of Aargau.
The solution came in 1975 with the Roman Treaty. The archaeological operations, which had previously been privately organised, were transferred to the administration of the canton of Basel-Landschaft.
The treaty created a viable inter-cantonal solution that continues to ensure the long-term protection, research and mediation of the ancient heritage of Augusta Raurica to this day.
“In recent days and weeks, there has been much talk in the press, on the radio and on television about the demise of the ancient Roman city of Augusta Raurica. This is a cultural monument of national importance which, unless bold action is taken immediately, will disappear from the face of the earth in the coming months or years, with only a few monuments remaining.”
Translated quote from Fritz Epple's interpellation concerning the rescue of Augusta Raurica from October 1973.
