A 1,600-year-old indoor pool from Roman times has been unearthed in Durrës, Albania, making it the first-of-its-kind to be discovered in the country.

The National Institute of Cultural Heritage is in the process of excavating a residential villa thought to be populated by local elites. The pool was fitted with remarkably well-preserved Roman mosaics on the floor, featuring intricate geometric motifs crafted from marble, stone, glass and ceramics. Archaeologists also uncovered a structure consisting of two shallow bathtubs covered in layers of mortar for waterproofing purposes near the pool. The Roman ruins are dated to somewhere between the 1^st and 4^th century AD, making them at least 1,600 years old.

Excavations in the northern area of the villa revealed numerous walls and a substantial brick floor, which are believed to be remnants of a two-storey Roman bathhouse. The western part of the site contained fragments of decorations on the walls and ceilings of the villa, featuring various anthropomorphic and floral motifs. A rainwater drainage channel built with ceramic tiles was also found. Overall, the excavation site covers an area of 1,200 square metres.

As excavations continue, archaeologists theorise that this villa was destroyed by the earthquake of the 4^th century AD, an event which they say is also mentioned in ancient sources.

Durrës is the primary seaport of Albania and lies on the coast of the Adriatic Sea. It was founded by the Greeks in the 7^th century BCE and later passed to the Romans.