Archaeologists have uncovered the largest Roman bath complex ever discovered in the Netherlands, revealing fresh evidence of the wealth and sophistication of the ancient city of Ulpia Noviomagus Batavorum, now modern-day Nijmegen.
Excavations on the banks of the River Waal have exposed the remains of a public bathhouse covering nearly 5,000 square metres, making it significantly larger than any other Roman bath complex previously found in the country. The discovery was made during preparations for a new housing development on the site of a former industrial area.
The bathhouse dates to the first and second centuries AD, when Nijmegen was one of the most important Roman settlements in the region. Archaeologists say the scale and lavish decoration of the complex reflect the city’s prosperity during the height of Roman rule.
Excavations have uncovered the foundations of heated and cold baths; the complex included a caldarium, tepidarium and frigidarium, the three basics of a Roman public bath. It has been argued that the complex was extended over time, probably to accommodate a growing population or to create separate facilities for men and women.
Thousands of artefacts have also been recovered from the site, including fragments of bronze statues, signet rings, a necklace with a gold clasp and hundreds of bone hairpins used by women to create elaborate Roman hairstyles.
The bathhouse itself was richly decorated. Archaeologists found marble-covered interior walls, black-and-white limestone floors, painted stucco and ornamental columns made of limestone and sandstone— features typically associated with prestigious public buildings across the Roman Empire.
Ulpia Noviomagus Batavorum was granted city status around AD 100 under Emperor Trajan, when it was a civilian settlement next to a Roman legionary fortress, and the family name Ulpius became part of the city’s name. Located at the Rhine crossing between the North Sea and the interior of Europe and on a major trade route, it became one of the most important Roman settlements in what is now the Netherlands.
Although modest compared to the vast imperial bathhouses of Rome, the Nijmegen complex is larger than those previously discovered at Roman sites such as Heerlen and Voorburg, making it the country’s most significant Roman bathing complex uncovered to date.
Archaeological remains will be incorporated into the new residential development. Parts of the ancient bathhouse under the neighbourhood will be preserved and the central public square known as Thermenplein (Baths Square) will be named in reference to the Roman history of the site. Covered walkways inspired by Roman colonnades will also be included in the development to make sure the city’s 2,000-year-old history is still visible in its modern landscape.
City officials said the discoveries reinforce Nijmegen’s position as the Netherlands’ foremost Roman city and provide new insights into urban life on the empire’s north-western frontier.
Sources : Welt
