2,000-year-old Roman bath uncovered in Spain offered a spa-like experience. See it
Archaeologists in Spain have uncovered a 2,000-year-old Roman sauna-like room heated by natural hot springs.
The large room, known as a caldarium, is the most recent feature of a larger bathing complex to be unearthed at the Roman villa of Alamillo in Puerto de Mazarrón, according to a news release from the Mazarrón Tourism Office.
Archaeologists also discovered a “tubuli,” at the site — a pipe that transported air from the hot springs at temperatures between 104 and 122 degrees Fahrenheit to heat the walls and floors of the caldarium.
The radiant heat would have then warmed the entire room, according to experts.
A caldarium typically had “several basins and bathtubs in which users could enjoy baths” in water directly from the thermal springs, experts said.
A bathtub was among the list of new artifacts unearthed during the site’s excavation in recent months.
The use of oils and herbal mixtures, including eucalyptus, chamomile and lavender, to enhance the bathing experience was also popular, according to the release.
The Roman villa of Alamillo
This site was initially discovered in 1987 by archaeologist Manuel Amante prior to the construction of housing at Alamillo Beach, Carmen Martínez Mañogil, director of the current Alamillo bath excavation, told McClatchy news.
The site served two primary functions: the first as a residential compound of which the caldarium was a part, and the second, as an industrial facility to process fish and produce a highly-valued salted fish sauce called garum.
In 2023, an archaeological assessment of the area prior to the construction of a new seafront promenade revealed several new buildings, including the caldarium, officials said.
When the excavation is complete, officials said the Roman ruins will be integrated into the El Alamillo promenade, giving visitors an up-close perspective on the historical site.
Puerto de Mazarrón is in the city of Murcia, about a 175-mile drive southwest from Valencia.
This story was originally published December 4, 2024 at 10:39 AM with the headline "2,000-year-old Roman bath uncovered in Spain offered a spa-like experience. See it."
