Commenters on social media suggested that the object could be a sled, a wagon, or even part of an early airplane, but archaeologists aren't sure of its purpose at the moment.
Sergio Veri, Riva San Vitale/FacebookThe wagon-like contraption appears to be from the 20th century, but no one is sure where it came from.
High in the mountains of Europe, melting glaciers have started to expose incredible objects. In recent years, archaeologists have documented 1,300-year-old arrows, artifacts from World War I, and even the remains of missing hikers. Recently, a hiker in the Swiss Alps came across what appears to be a bamboo wagon — but archaeologists aren’t sure exactly what it is.
Experts know two things: the two-wheeled object is made of bamboo and seems to be from the 20th century. Otherwise, the contraption is leading to more questions than answers.
The Bamboo Contraption In Splügen Pass
According to a Facebook post from the Canton of Graubünden, the object was found on Nov. 2, 2024, by a Swiss hiker named Sergio Veri. While walking through the Splügen Pass area of the Swiss Alps, which lies near the border of Switzerland and Italy, Veri noticed a “curious object” in the “far melted Schwarzhorn Glacier.”
Sergio Veri, Riva San Vitale/FacebookThe object was found “at the bottom end” of the largely melted glacier.
“The wagon-like construction, equipped with two wheels and made of bamboo rods and laces, is according to the initial estimate relatively young, probably from the 20th century,” the Facebook post reads.
The object has archaeologists stumped. It’s made with bamboo, a plant that is not native to Switzerland (but was introduced to Europe in the 17th and 18th centuries). For some reason, it was apparently abandoned high in the Alps. So, what could it possibly be?
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Theories About The Bamboo Contraption Found Near The Schwarzhorn Glacier
For now, the bamboo object has stumped the Archaeological Service of Graubünden. The agency stated on Facebook that its “function and creator are unknown” and that “anyone who has clues to the unknown found object can contact [us] directly.”
Sergio Veri, Riva San Vitale/FacebookAnyone who has ideas about what the object could be is encouraged to contact the Archaeological Service of Graubünden.
So far, some people on social media have offered up ideas about what the bamboo contraption could be. On the Canton of Graubünden’s Facebook page, commenters postulated that the object was a smuggling cart from World War I, a tool used by explorers, scientists, or adventurers, or even part of an early 20th-century airplane.
“[P]robable for carrying hunted game animals off the mountain,” one commenter suggested on the Canton of Graubünden’s page.
Another used ChatGPT to come up with answers and posted the response, which read: “The object in the images appears to be a primitive or improvised vehicle, likely a cart or a sled, constructed using bamboo and other natural materials. Its two-wheel structure suggests it was designed to carry loads, possibly over rugged terrain… The presence of bamboo, which is not native to the Swiss Alps, adds an intriguing element.”
Public DomainA historic illustration of people crossing Splügen Pass that depicts horses curiously pulling carts similar to the one found in the Alps.
For now, however, its purpose remains a mystery.
In the meantime, the bamboo contraption joins the pantheon of other fascinating objects that have been found as glaciers worldwide began to melt more rapidly. Researchers have discovered animal remains, decades-old cameras left by hikers, reindeer hunting tools, and even just this year a 1,000-year-old ice skate made of animal bone.
As glaciers around the world recede, they’ve begun to reveal centuries-old secrets. And as researchers ponder the meaning of the bamboo contraption found in Switzerland, who knows what will turn up next?
After reading about the bamboo object discovered in the Alps, go inside the fascinating story of Ötzi the Iceman, the 5,300-year-old corpse found in the Austro-Italian Alps that is considered the oldest set of human remains ever found. Or, look through these photos of the world’s most stunning glaciers, from Baltoro Glacier in Pakistan to the glaciers of Antarctica.
