During the archaeological season of 2003 in the modern city of Durrёs (ancient Dyrrhachium), excavations were undertaken on the left side of “A. Goga” street revealing the remains of a roman bath house. It is 20.50m long and 7. 50m wide and it has anorth – south orientation. The foundation walls are built with Opus Caementicium and the supporting walls of Opus Latericium.
The lower area of the thermae (Suspensurae), is paved with clay slabs measuring to 0. 45 × 0.3m. On this layer are raised the hypocaust pillars and above is a solid mortar layer in Opus Signinum technique. The excavations revealed the main rooms of this monument.
The Apodyterium is e extended to the southern side of the thermae and measures to 7. 10 × 5.10m. The bounded walls and the floor are badly preserved whereas the pillars of the Suspensurae and Calidarium were made of hypocaust tiles.
The Frigidarium has an “L” shape, with a maximum length of 7.30m and width of 7.25m. From this area is preserved only a part of the floor layer, built over pillars of rectangular bricks.
The Tepidarium measures to 7.43m x 2.40m, and is floored over pillars that are the result of a combination between hypocausts and rectangular bricks. Only a small section of the floor is preserved and it appears to have been paved with marble slabs.
The Caldarium is extended on the north of the Tepidarium and measures to 5.35m x 1.40m. On the inner sides of the walls and on the floor are preserved traces a marble face. From the Praefurnium remain parts of its vault.
The Sudatorium measures to 3.95 × 2.60, and is supported by pillars of rectangular bricks. Some of the pillars are joined up with arches.
On the eastern side of the baths were revealed traces of three Praefurnia and the hearth of the steam boiler. The first Praefurnium is on the eastern wall of the Apodyterium. The second is on the eastern side of the Sudatorium, whereas the third one lies close by the Caldarium, attached to the hearth of the steam boiler. The hearth has a circular shape and is made of tiles and mortar. Its diameter is 0.92m.
The archaeological material revealed from the excavation consists of: Italian terra sigillata, eastern sigillata B and cooking vessels that date to the first half of the 1st century A.D. The African sigillata, locally produced and Aegean cooking vessels, date to a later period of time, that corresponds to the middle of the 2nd century A.D. and the first half of the 3rd century A.D.
The archaeological data suggest that the baths might have been constructed at the end of the 1st century A.D. and the begging of 2nd century A.D.