Exposed by melting snows in the Alps, mystery bamboo cart puzzles experts

On November 2, Swiss hiker Sergio Veri discovered a mysterious bamboo cart while hiking through the Splügen Pass in the Graubünden region. The cart was found among mountain rocks along an ancient trail, and its origins have puzzled experts. It is made entirely of bamboo canes stitched together with ropes and features two wheels created using bamboo poles. Such a construction surprised archaeologists, especially since bamboo is not native to Switzerland.

The finding was reported by Popular Mechanics, HuffPost, and Heritage Daily, among other websites.

The Graubünden Archaeological Service has launched a public appeal for information regarding the bamboo cart, emphasizing that any data may be crucial to clarify the mystery surrounding this foreign artifact. "The function of the object and the identity of its creator remain undetermined," the Archaeological Service explained. In a Facebook post reporting the find, canton officials jokingly referred to the cart as a "UFO" and asked if anyone has information on the origins of the contraption.

As glaciers around the world recede, they reveal a variety of ancient items, including hunting tools, weapons, and traces of early climbers, as well as equipment lost by mountaineers from past centuries. High in the mountains of Europe, melting glaciers have started to expose incredible objects, including equipment lost by mountaineers from past centuries, ancient tools, weapons, and even human remains like the mummy of Ötzi.

Experts are unsure of what the bamboo cart was once used for, with hypotheses suggesting it may have been a sled for carrying supplies or a tool for explorers, scientists, or adventurers; the structure of the bamboo cart indicates some kind of utility. Online theories about the provenance of the cart range from it being used for carrying supplies or meat killed while hunting to it being a key item in a smuggling operation or pieces of a would-be airplane.

The bamboo construction of the vehicle is intriguing and raises questions about its origin and use. Bamboo is a non-native plant to Europe, first introduced in the late 1700s or early 1800s through trade. This suggests that the wagon likely dates from around the 20th century. The use of bamboo in the cart raises a unique question: How did the material arrive in the heart of the Swiss Alps?

The Splügen Pass, known as a historical trade route, has been used since antiquity and facilitates exchange between northern and southern Europe. It connects Splügen in Graubünden, Switzerland, with Chiavenna in Italy and is located about 160 kilometers southeast of Zurich. The high mountain conditions and rugged terrain of the Splügen Pass made the crossing a challenge, especially in winter when the pass was covered with snow and ice.

As the Schwarzhorn Glacier and other mountain glaciers continue to reveal their secrets, archaeologists have documented artifacts from World War I, 1,300-year-old arrows, and even the famous Ötzi mummy, the 5,300-year-old corpse found in the Austro-Italian Alps. Researchers have also discovered decades-old cameras left by hikers and reindeer hunting tools as glaciers recede.

This article was written in collaboration with generative AI company Alchemiq