The North Baths at Morgantina were discovered and partially excavated in 1970 and 1971 by the American Excavations at Morgantina. In 2003, U.S. excavations were resumed and have revealed the eleven rooms of the building. In 1971, the excavators believed that the North Baths and the south bath building were parts of one large complex; however, recent work has revealed that the two formed separate structures on either side of a major intersection of the ancient city.

Current ceramics and numismatics evidence indicates a mid-third century B.C. date for the construction of the baths. The North Baths are remarkable in particular for the very early evidence they offer for aboveground vaulted construction. In 1971, the remains of a collapsed dome were uncovered in the tholos (room 5; 5.75 m. diameter), while partial evidence was revealed of a collapsed barrel vault in a nearby room (room 8) with a span of 5.00 m. Excavations since 2003 have fully uncovered this vault and have revealed the presence of a second vaulted space (room 9) with a span of 5.50 m. The dome and the two vaults were of uniform construction, using a system of interlocking hollow terracotta tubes, the earliest such examples thus far known. The building includes, among other features, a hypocaust, provision for individual bathing in portable terracotta bathtubs, and a room with a pool for hot water communal immersion bathing. There is evidence to suggest that the building collapsed in an earthquake.

In 2007, we continued to remove the collapsed building debris on top of the vault in room 9. Additionally, we investigated the area across the alley to the north of the baths, two rooms that had been partially excavated in 1970, thereby revealing the possible presence of a sanctuary. Our provisional plan for 2008 is to continue this work and completely uncover the collapsed vault in room 9 in order to determine more clearly the features of that room. Plans also include the construction of a permanent roof over the complex.