Pipes tell Basel's Urban History. Archaeology and the Expansion of the District's Heating Network

Canton Basel-Stadt has a rich prehistoric and historic heritage. The former episcopal town is exceptionally well preserved, and is the largest historical city centre in Switzerland. The canton's Climate Protection Strategy includes a reduction in emissions by expanding the use of solar energy and a district-wide heating network. Over the next 10 years, the district's heating system will be expanded to form a network of 60 km, with a budget of 460 million Swiss francs. The new heating network and the upgrading of old pipes will provide the Archaeology Service with many opportunities to gain a deeper understanding of Basel's past. Against this background, we have carried out three simultaneous rescue excavations in the historical city centre during the last two years. As part of the Office of Culture, one of the high priority tasks for the Archaeology Service is to present the results of the excavations and research projects to the public. In order to make the public aware of the need for archaeological excavation, the Service puts a lot of energy into public relations work, using posters, press briefings, exhibitions and social media posts. Thanks to public participation, it has been possible to build a positive environment for our work.