In the 1930s, Figueras-Pacheco first uncovered the Popilius Baths at the ancient city of Lucentum. They were among several baths, yet they stood out because part of the building bore the signature of the patron who financed its construction. In the 1990s, the Provincial Archaeological Museum Diputación consolidated the findings, and since 2000 the changing rooms were excavated. Recent work at the Tossal de Manises site in Alicante has brought to light the hot spring furnace, remarkably well preserved.
The significance of this discovery lies not only in the place of the structure but also in its appearance. It documents one of the city’s most important buildings in a tangible way.
MARQ and the director of the excavation, Manuel Olcina, along with shopkeeper Anthony Gilbert, confirm the oven’s existence through visible clues. Cousins of a belt were observed, suggesting a possible match to this structure or its reuse. “But it was there,” they note, and the full arch forming the furnace mouth communicates with the room beneath the building’s floors to heat it, which remains intact.
The find reveals a semicircular arch that is rather irregular, yet the arches are well made and the channel is lined with refractory brick to withstand high heat. On the sides, hooks for mounting a grill or similar device can be seen, and there is a boiler for heating water inside the furnace.
Roman baths used heated air that circulated under the floor. The source was wood combustion to generate heat. Hypocausts and brick-lined rooms show where air from chimneys moved through the spaces. “It feels like underfloor heating,” explains the archaeologist.
Heat drives water through air. “There was probably a boiler feeding hot water from a buried pipe. Perhaps the system wasn’t enough, so an old cistern was repurposed as a boiler as well, providing hot water to the tub. The system shows a high level of sophistication.”
Lucentum, a box of surprises
The baths included hot and cold pools used daily. The building was dense and highly regarded, often located next to the forum. People worked here, and when their tasks ended, they could rest nearby. It was a busy, busy year.
The structure’s peculiarity lies in a period when the changing room closed due to a floor issue caused by a natural crack that possibly sunk. It was later reopened, and the financier Popilius, who funded the site, is known for leaving a stone bench engraved with his name on the opposite side of the hot spring.
Baths date from the reign of Augustus to the end of the 1st century BC, with reforms attributed to Popilius after 23 AD. “We know this because a Cartagena coin minted in 23 AD was found on the site’s pavement, suggesting the dates extended later than initially thought.”
The MARQ director notes that these baths are modest in size but adequate for the city at that time. A larger hot spring lies along the far wall of the city and was built in the first half of the 1st century CE. “Popilius baths used ancient techniques but were quite modern for their era.” He adds, “They bear resemblance to the baths in Pompeii from the Republican era.”
Now there is a clear understanding of how the structure worked, its history, all its parts, and how it was built. The furnace was found intact and the pieces harmonize. The current aim is to document, preserve the memory, and publish the findings. Next year’s campaign plans a museum project, with panels placed and walls of the furnace stabilized.
Excavations also uncovered important materials such as lantern fragments, some small ceramic bottles, and an almost complete amphora.
Deposit investments
Representing the Cultural Authority, Julia Parra led a team of 14 with MARQ staff and volunteers, including Manuel Olcina. They report significant progress in archaeological research at the site and note that participation has rebounded after the pandemic. The focus remains on exploring the uses and character of symbolic structures as well as the Roman baths.
There is a clear commitment from the Alicante Provincial Council to invest in six sites of great value on the European archaeological map. This ongoing support underscores the region’s dedication to preserving and presenting its ancient heritage to the public.