Ancient Roman bathhouse in Turkey repurposed for wine and oil production

New research published in the Journal of Roman Archaeology reveals that an ancient Roman bathhouse in the city of Antiochia ad Cragum, located on the southern coast of modern-day Turkey, was repurposed into a large-scale agricultural processing facility.

Originally constructed in the late 2nd or early 3rd century CE, the Small Bath complex featured marble decorations, painted walls, and intricate mosaics. During the Late Roman period, the northern half of the building was extensively modified to facilitate the production of wine and olive oil.

Archaeologists discovered that workers installed a new wall across the main hall to accommodate industrial equipment. This included a rotary trapetum mill used for crushing olives and a stone press bed designed for liquid extraction. Evidence of grape processing was also found in former bath rooms, including channels and large vats. This site represents the largest agricultural production installation identified in Antiochia ad Cragum to date.