On November 2, a hiker named Sergio Veri made an unexpected discovery at the Splügen Pass in the Swiss Alps. At 2,100 meters high, he found a two-wheeled cart made entirely of bamboo, partially exposed by melting glacier ice. The cart looks modern and is quite out of place for such a wild environment.
After reporting it, experts from the Archaeological Service of Graubünden, Switzerland’s largest canton, confirmed the cart is likely a 20th-century creation, but many questions remain about its origin and purpose.
Bamboo is not native to the Alps. While it was introduced to Europe in the 18th and 19th centuries, it has never been commonly used in this region for transport or military purposes. The lack of similar vehicles documented in history adds to the mystery. A report from ArchaeologyMag states that despite its relatively good condition, the cart has no personal items or clear signs of use.
Historically, the Splügen Pass has been significant for trade and migration since at least the Roman Empire, but no records mention a bamboo cart like this. Experts are puzzled.
The cart is part of a growing trend where melting glaciers are revealing lost items from past decades. According to a 2023 European Space Agency report, glaciers have lost over 2% of their volume in the last decade due to rising temperatures. In Switzerland, these changes have uncovered items like a 20th-century sled in the Cavagnöö Glacier, reflecting long-standing logistical importance in the region. This bamboo cart, however, stands out due to its unusual material.
As scientists continue to analyze the cart, speculation has run rampant. On Facebook, the Canton of Graubünden shared pictures that sparked theories among users. Suggestions range from it being a smuggling sled used in the mid-20th century to a prototype for an ultralight glider. However, no solid evidence supports these ideas, as nothing similar has been found in any museum or archive.
This situation highlights how climate change is uncovering pieces of modern history that were thought to be well understood. The cart represents not just a forgotten innovation but also prompts new questions about human interaction with challenging terrains during the last century.
As glaciers continue to shrink, they not only reveal lost artifacts but also remind us of the cultural history we risk losing. Each uncovered item adds to our understanding of how people adapted to their environments and interacts with our past.
