The remains of the best surviving example of a Roman bathing establishment in Malta, which date back to the early part of the second century AD, are found at Ghajn Tuffieha, on the outskirts of Mgarr.
The site, which was discovered in 1929 by Water Works Department employees who were digging at il-Gnien ta’ Ghajn Tuffieha, was initially excavated by Sir Temi Zammit in 1929. Further excavations were carried out in 1930 under the supervision of Sir Temi, Thomas Ashby and Lewis Upton Way.
The site consists of an orthogonal arrangement of rooms, similar to provincial bathing establishments. One of the surviving rooms, the changing room (apodyterium), houses one of the best mosaics found in Malta, and the surviving part of its north wall still has patches of fresco painting imitating marble.
The hot room (caldarium), was heated by means of a hypocaust, the remains of which were found on site. A hypocaust is a floor raised on brick arches that allowed hot air from the furnace to circulate and heat the floor and walls of the room above. Although a few of the hypocaust arches were found during the excavation, none of them survive today, except for some stacked bricks. The hot room also had clay pipes attached to the walls, which allowed hot air from the hypocaust to heat up the walls.
The site also includes the remains of a cold bath (frigidarium), a latrine and an open-air swimming pool (natatio). Three stone seats with “key-hole” slots were found in the latrine, indicating that the original number of seats was nine. A stone channel in front of the seats was supplied with water from a lead pipe, and provided for the washing of the toilet sponge – a means of personal hygiene used in the Roman world.
A corridor separates these facilities from six small rooms, with either mosaic or tiled floors and the walls of which were constructed of rubble and covered in plaster. The use of these rooms is, however, still uncertain. The open-air pool or natatio, is approximately 10 metres long, 15 metres wide and over a metre deep. It was lined with plaster and had a number of stone steps in one corner to facilitate entering and leaving the water.
This site is unique to the Maltese islands but has suffered a considerable amount of damage through surface and structural decay, as well as human disturbance. After the excavation in 1929, the site was left open for 27 years. A security wall was eventually built in 1955-56 but visitors were still allowed in uncontrolled and much damage was done to the site. In addition, exposure of the site to the elements – wind and rain – causes continuous erosion.
Heritage Malta is currently working on a project aimed at safeguarding and rehabilitating the Roman Baths so that they can be preserved, interpreted and appreciated by present and future generations. In this connection, an outline project proposal has been drafted and feedback is being sought from all stakeholders and interested
individuals.
The extensive project that is proposed will include a condition survey and conservation of the site, further study of the site and its surrounding area, interpretation, and the installation of visitor facilities. It is intended that the visitor facilities will be accommodated in an existing nearby room, following its refurbishment.
Heritage Malta is currently seeking funds for the implementation of this project, and applications for funding have already been submitted to the European Union and to Norwegian and EEA funding mechanisms. When the necessary funds have been obtained, it will be possible for Heritage Malta to safeguard another important site by implementing much needed conservation measures while making the site accessible to everyone through the installation of visitor facilities such as walkways and interpretation aids.
Article provided by Heritage Malta