Show summary Hide summary
Archaeologists working in eastern Serbia say they have uncovered an unusually built Roman bath suite hidden inside the lower level of a palace tower — a layout not previously recorded in the empire. The complex, found at the Vrelo‑Šarkamen site, appears to have served imperial residents and points to advanced engineering and private luxury at an early fourth‑century imperial residence.
A bath tucked into a tower
The balneum was revealed during excavations at Vrelo‑Šarkamen, a fortified residential complex constructed in the early fourth century. Archaeologists attribute the palace to the reign of Maximinus Daza, the Roman ruler who held power roughly from 310 to 313.
Ultra-thin women smoking cigarettes are making a comeback as a fashion trend
Windows Memory Diagnostic explained: what the test does and how to read results
Researchers say the bath occupies the lowest level of a monumental tower in the palace’s southwest corner — a surprising context because most ancient balnea are arranged in a linear sequence of rooms rather than set inside a circular tower space.
Unusual architecture and evidence of sophisticated engineering
The newly exposed bathing area has a domed ceiling pierced by six windows, a feature the excavation team points to as evidence of high technical knowledge. That circular design, combined with the tower setting, makes the layout unique among known Roman baths, according to a statement from the Institute of Archaeology in Serbia issued on Sept. 3.
The Institute’s statement adds that the complex combined architectural form, mechanical systems and comfort into a single functional unit — indicating it was intended for wealthy or high‑status occupants rather than for simple hygiene.
What the team found inside
Within the suite, archaeologists documented three bathing pools and a sudatorium — the Latin term for a steam room or sauna. The complex was divided into two zones: one area housed the equipment needed to run the baths, and the other contained the bathing and relaxation rooms used by palace residents.
In the technical zone the team uncovered the furnace used to heat the floors and the foundation for a copper boiler that would have warmed water. The boiler itself is missing, the researchers say, but the surviving installation demonstrates the presence of an integrated heating system.
Context: Maximinus Daza and the late Roman palace
Vrelo‑Šarkamen has been the subject of intermittent excavation for decades. The site served as an imperial residence during a turbulent period in Roman history. Maximinus — also known as Galerius Valerius Maximinus or Daza in older sources — was one of the rulers in the tetrarchic system instituted in A.D. 293. That system divided rule between senior and junior emperors across the Eastern and Western halves of the empire.
By the early 300s the tetrarchy was fracturing. The archaeological statement notes Maximinus briefly asserted higher rank during the power struggles of the era and ultimately died in 313 after losing a civil war to Licinius.
Next steps for the excavation
Investigators say further work will focus on clarifying how the rooms related to one another and how access to the private bath was organized for the emperor and his household. Continued study of the heating and water systems should help reconstruct the practical operation of the suite.
The discovery at Vrelo‑Šarkamen adds fresh detail to scholars’ understanding of late Roman palace design and the ways elite comfort and technical infrastructure were combined in imperial dwellings.
