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Luxury bath house from Roman Chichester unearthed by archaeologists
‘Almost unique’ remains of wealthy home from town’s Roman heyday found under public park in centre
Maev Kennedy
Wednesday 31 May 2017 02.00 EDT
The foundations of a luxurious private bath house once owned by some of the richest citizens of Roman Chichester have been found under a public park in the centre of the city.
The outlines of three buildings in Priory Park were detected by ground-penetrating radar last year and confirmed by a small trial trench, but extensive remains have now been found by local volunteers joining professional archaeologists in an excavation. The initial guess that the distinctive rounded end of one of the buildings could mean it was a bath house has been confirmed.
James Kenny, an archaeologist, said: “It’s almost unique to see Roman remains survive in this type of setting and to be so complete.”
The dig has uncovered the remains of the hot room and its hypocaust, the pillared basement that heated it. It would originally have been part of a suite of bathrooms attached to an opulent private house on the edge of the city, away from the noise and smells of the central markets area.
More:
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2017/may/31/luxury-bath-house-from-roman-chichester-unearthed-by-archaeologists