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Massive 2,000-year-old luxurious Roman bathhouse uncovered in the Netherlands
Interesting Engineering ^ | June 20, 2026 | Maria Mocerino

Posted on 07/06/2026 11:01:57 PM PDT by SunkenCiv

The largest Roman bathhouse complex ever discovered in the Netherlands has surfaced, shedding new light on the wealth and importance of the ancient Roman city of Ulpia Noviomagus.

Researchers from the archaeological firms RAAP and BAAC were conducting routine investigations in Nijmegen's Waalfront district, a site slated for new residential development. The excavation, which began in September of last year and will conclude in July, uncovered a public bathhouse, residential blocks, luxury townhouses, streets, and a tower dating back nearly 2,000 years...

The bathhouse complex, or thermae, covered at least 4,900 square meters, making it the second-largest excavated Roman public bath complex in the Netherlands. Despite centuries of stone removal and reuse following the Roman period, parts of the structure remain exceptionally well-preserved...

Ulpia Noviomagus... is believed to have received its official status from Emperor Trajan around 100 AD. The discoveries suggest that this area of the city remained active well into the third century AD.

(Excerpt) Read more at interestingengineering.com ...


TOPICS: History; Science; Travel
KEYWORDS: godsgravesglyphs; netherlands; nijmegen; romanempire; trajan; ulpianoviomagus

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subtitled, "Archaeologists in Nijmegen have unearthed a massive Roman public bathhouse and townhouse."

1 posted on 07/06/2026 11:01:57 PM PDT by SunkenCiv
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To: StayAt HomeMother; Ernest_at_the_Beach; 1ofmanyfree; 21twelve; 24Karet; 2ndDivisionVet; 31R1O; ...

2 posted on 07/06/2026 11:03:02 PM PDT by SunkenCiv (The Demagogic Party is just a collection of violent, rival street gangs.)
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To: All

3 posted on 07/06/2026 11:13:27 PM PDT by Liz (“The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies the work of His hands." (Psalm 19:1))
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To: SunkenCiv
Ulpia Noviomagus... is believed to have received its official status from Emperor Trajan around 100 AD.

The Roman Empire in 100 AD under Trajan was Rome at peak power. The Rhine River is the traditional dividing line between Roman culture (France) and Germany, but notice the streak through northern Holland.

roman empire 100 ad
4 posted on 07/06/2026 11:24:40 PM PDT by Right_Wing_Madman
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To: SunkenCiv

Let me guess: It bears a striking resemblance to the Obama Library


5 posted on 07/07/2026 12:32:20 AM PDT by Texas Eagle (If it wasn't for double-standards, Liberals would have no standards at all. )
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To: SunkenCiv

https://archaeologymag.com/2026/06/roman-bathhouse-found-in-nijmegen/


6 posted on 07/07/2026 1:43:41 AM PDT by Paladin2
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To: Texas Eagle; All
Graffiti says ...

"Bath house Barry was here"

7 posted on 07/07/2026 2:13:05 AM PDT by SMARTY (In politics, stupidity is not a handicap. Napoleon Bonaparte I)
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To: SunkenCiv

““For years, the traces of the Roman past at this location were invisible, hidden deep underground”.

THAT was UNDERGROUND? There is even a tree growing there?


8 posted on 07/07/2026 2:33:05 AM PDT by Beowulf9
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To: SunkenCiv

bathhouse, residential blocks, luxury townhouses, streets, and a tower

How deep did they have to dig to uncover a tower?

:]


9 posted on 07/07/2026 2:51:51 AM PDT by Adder ("A pack of jackasses led by a lion is superior to a pack of lions led by a jackass.” GW.)
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To: SunkenCiv

10 posted on 07/07/2026 3:03:55 AM PDT by Apparatchik (Русские свиньи, идите домой)
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To: Liz

Wow!


11 posted on 07/07/2026 3:06:35 AM PDT by Freee-dame (The left never dreamed that Trump would be back in the White House in 2025. )
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To: SunkenCiv

“The bathhouse complex, or thermae, covered at least 4,900 square meters, making it the second-largest excavated Roman public bath complex in the Netherlands.”

Hard to see why a bathhouse in the Netherlands is newsworthy.


12 posted on 07/07/2026 3:56:55 AM PDT by BobL (Trusting one's doctor is the #1 health mistake one can make.)
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To: SunkenCiv

Bathhouse Barry’s next vacation?


13 posted on 07/07/2026 4:36:32 AM PDT by maddog55 (The only thing systemic in America is the left's hatred of it!)
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To: maddog55

His life has been one long vacation.


14 posted on 07/07/2026 4:37:22 AM PDT by SunkenCiv (The Demagogic Party is just a collection of violent, rival street gangs.)
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To: Beowulf9

It’s been a while since maintenance was in.


15 posted on 07/07/2026 4:43:36 AM PDT by SunkenCiv (The Demagogic Party is just a collection of violent, rival street gangs.)
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To: Right_Wing_Madman
Roman territory fluctuated, but it's been clear for years that the Rhine was never their limit. Trajan was one of the most militarily successful, but his boy-preferring successor, adopted son Hadrian, wanted to take it easy the rest of his life, and had to be talked out of giving up the hard-won Dacia. Trajan had whipped the Parthians and (as shown in the map) had added the province of Mesopotamia, but Hadrian immediately gave it up.

Hadrian's best known now for the wall, which was actually a reimagined, better-built rebuild. Annnnd, before anyone starts up, it had nothing to do with the Scots, who didn't leave Ireland until the Romans had been gone from all of Britain for about a century.

When Diocletian ended decades of decline, he also set up a system of succession, and divided the empire into east and west for better administration. Each half was also divided, such that the outermost quarters were administrated by the designated successor of each of the emperors. The western part of the western empire had its capital in Trier.

16 posted on 07/07/2026 4:59:34 AM PDT by SunkenCiv (The Demagogic Party is just a collection of violent, rival street gangs.)
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To: SunkenCiv

Based on reading the article, it seems they plan to tear it all down and replace it all with a modern colonnade “just like the Roman times” as part of the new build.

And call the new complex Thermenplein.

There is no mention of salvaging any structures now that they have found some coins and such.

Kind of sad.


17 posted on 07/07/2026 5:12:32 AM PDT by Bartholomew Roberts
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To: Bartholomew Roberts

Probably heading to a museum, eventually.


18 posted on 07/07/2026 5:52:30 AM PDT by SunkenCiv (The Demagogic Party is just a collection of violent, rival street gangs.)
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To: Liz

That appeared to be a file pic, so I didn’t use it. It’s actually in Tunisia.


19 posted on 07/07/2026 6:18:16 AM PDT by SunkenCiv (The Demagogic Party is just a collection of violent, rival street gangs.)
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To: BobL

Since this was posted as a chat topic, it’s hard to see why your comment makes any sense.


20 posted on 07/07/2026 6:19:00 AM PDT by SunkenCiv (The Demagogic Party is just a collection of violent, rival street gangs.)
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