Archaeologists in ancient Roman city unearth luxurious Roman bathhouse

BBC describes in a recent exclusive report that archaeologists in ancient Roman city have uncovered an extraordinary discovery hidden beneath layers of volcanic rock. 

After being concealed under meters of volcanic rock and ash for 2,000 years, a "once-in-a-century" discovery has been made in the ancient Roman city of Pompeii, Italy.

Archaeologists have uncovered a lavish private bathhouse – possibly the largest ever found at the site – featuring hot, warm, and cold rooms, intricate artwork, and a massive plunge pool.

This spa-like complex is located at the center of a grand residence uncovered during a major excavation over the past two years.

"It's these spaces that really are part of the 'Pompeii effect' – it's almost as if the people had only left a minute ago," says Dr. Gabriel Zuchtriegel, director of the Archaeological Park of Pompeii, who shared the new discovery exclusively with BBC News.

The analysis of two skeletons found in the house also reveals the terrifying fate faced by Pompeii's residents during the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in AD79.

The remains belonged to a woman, aged between 35 and 50, who was holding jewelry and coins, and a young man in his teens or early 20s.

They had attempted to barricade themselves in a small room, but were killed when a surge of superheated volcanic gas and ash—known as a pyroclastic flow—swept through the city.

"This is a dramatic place, and everything you find here tells you about the drama," says Pompeii conservator, Dr. Ludovica Alesse.

A third of the ancient city still remains buried beneath volcanic debris from the eruption, but the ongoing excavation—the most comprehensive in a generation—offers new insights into life in ancient Rome.

An entire block of Pompeii has now been uncovered, uncovering a laundry, a bakery, and a large private residence. These properties are believed to have been owned by a wealthy individual, possibly Aulus Rustius Verus, a prominent Pompeii politician.

The discovery of the bathhouse further affirms his elite status, according to Dr. Zuchtriegel.

"There are just a few houses that have a private bath complex, so it was something really for the wealthiest of the wealthy," he says. "And this is so huge—it's probably the biggest bath complex in a Pompeiian private home."

Those fortunate enough to use the suite of bathing rooms would have first undressed in a changing room adorned with vibrant red walls and a mosaic floor featuring geometric patterns, inlaid with marble sourced from across the Roman Empire.

They would then proceed to the hot room, where they could relax in a bath and enjoy sauna-like warmth, thanks to a suspended floor that allowed hot air to flow beneath it and walls with cavities for heat circulation.

Next, they would move to the brightly-painted warm room, where oil would be applied to the skin and then scraped off with a curved instrument known as a strigil.

Finally, they would enter the largest and most impressive room—the frigidarium, or cold room. Surrounded by red columns and frescoes of athletes, they could cool off in the plunge pool, which was so large that 20-30 people could fit in it.

By Naila Huseynova