Daraa, Nov. 10 (SANA) The remains of Roman-era baths in southern Syria’s Bosra al-Sham offer insight into ancient heating technology and the city’s historic role in trade networks linked to the Silk Road. At Khan al-Dibs, archaeologists have documented a network of clay and brick ducts built into basalt walls and beneath stone floors. The system circulated hot air through the bathhouse, providing an early form of central heating. The complex also served commercial functions, offering merchants storage facilities, accommodation and access to markets along ancient trade routes.
An ancient crossroads of international trade
Located in Syria’s southern Daraa province, Bosra was an important commercial and administrative center under Roman rule. According to Syrian archaeologist Mamoun Abdulkarim, author of a study on Bosra during classical antiquity, Khan al-Dibs occupied a strategic position at the intersection of two major routes in the ancient city. Its proximity to a water source made it a convenient stopping point for merchants transporting silk, jewelry, spices and textiles. Abdulkarim described the building as a two-story complex, with the ground floor providing secure storage for merchandise and the upper level offering accommodation and commercial space. The arrangement illustrates how ancient trading centers combined hospitality, warehousing and commercial activity.
Roman engineering beneath the floors
One of the site’s most distinctive features is its heating system, dating to the second century AD. Alaa al-Salah, head of Bosra’s antiquities department, said the complex’s architectural significance lies in its integration with the city’s central market baths. The system employed a technique known as a hypocaust, widely used in Roman bathhouses and wealthy residences. Floors were raised on small pillars, allowing hot air and gases from furnaces to circulate beneath them. Heat also traveled through clay and brick ducts embedded in the walls, warming the rooms while keeping smoke out of occupied areas. The incorporation of these channels into Bosra’s solid basalt masonry demonstrates the technical complexity of the construction. The bathhouse followed a typical Roman layout, with visitors moving between cold, warm and hot rooms. Ceramic pipes supplied water from storage and distribution tanks. Together, these systems highlight the sophistication of Roman public bathing facilities.
A multipurpose commercial complex
Beyond its bathing facilities, Khan al-Dibs accommodated a range of economic activities. Al-Salah said sections of the market were dedicated to trading precious metals, including gold, silver and bronze, as well as food and grain. The complex also included an area associated with coin production, administrative facilities and public baths. Limestone floors and decorative mosaics added to its architectural character, reflecting the combination of commercial activity and public amenities. For archaeologists, these features offer a broader picture of Bosra beyond its best-known landmarks, particularly its Roman theater and historic fortifications.
A center of trade and urban life
Archaeologist Abdullah Osama al-Miqdad said the remains demonstrate that Bosra possessed advanced infrastructure supporting commerce, public services and everyday urban life. He highlighted the integration of heating ducts into basalt walls, saying the construction methods contributed to the building’s durability against earthquakes and environmental pressures over the centuries.
The complex also illustrates how ancient commercial centers combined trade with public amenities, allowing merchants to find accommodation, store goods, negotiate transactions and use bathing facilities within the same district. As regional trade routes changed, the building underwent several transformations. During later Islamic periods, its spacious stone halls were adapted for caravan accommodation and the storage of locally produced goods, extending its commercial role beyond Roman rule.
Preservation challenges
Despite its historical significance, Khan al-Dibs faces conservation challenges. Excavation and restoration work conducted toward the end of the 20th century included repairs to the eastern section of the market’s flooring. However, further archaeological investigation and preservation efforts have been hampered by limited funding, shortages of specialized personnel and unauthorized excavations, according to al-Salah. The surviving structures remain valuable evidence of how ancient cities integrated engineering, trade and public infrastructure. With its distinctive basalt architecture and underfloor heating channels, Khan al-Dibs offers a glimpse into Bosra’s economic prosperity and its historical importance along ancient trade routes.
R.H/Abd
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