Underfloor Heating System Discovered in 1,700-Year-Old Roman Bath

[Judi Lynn]

Archaeologists in eastern Türkiye have uncovered a 1,700-year-old Roman bathhouse equipped with an advanced underfloor heating system, shedding new light on Roman engineering and daily life in the region.

Discovery by Chance Leads to Major Excavation

In 2023, a farmer in Salkaya village, Elazığ Province, stumbled upon a piece of mosaic while digging a pit to plant saplings. The accidental find soon turned into a major archaeological project coordinated by the Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism. Excavations revealed the remains of a Roman bath complex, dating back to around the 3rd century CE.

Using ground-penetrating radar (GPR), archaeologists surveyed the surrounding area to detect other buried structures. What they uncovered was remarkable: the caldarium, or hot bathing room of the bathhouse, still preserved with evidence of an advanced Roman heating system.

The excavations revealed a network of small columns (suspensurae) beneath the bath floor, a hallmark of the hypocaust system—an ingenious Roman technology that provided central heating almost two millennia ago.

Hot air generated from a nearby furnace circulated beneath the raised floor and through channels built into the walls. This system heated both the ground and Mthe surrounding walls, creating a warm and humid environment perfect for bathing. The caldarium in Elazığ’s bathhouse demonstrates this technology in action.

More:
https://arkeonews.net/underfloor-heating-system-discovered-in-1700-year-old-roman-bath/

[Old Crank]

1. There is a small Roman bath outside of Munich that also has underfloor heating.

Seems to be fairly common for the rich.