Medieval Bathhouse

The remnants of a medieval bathhouse at the northern foot of Suleiman Mountain were discovered quite unexpectedly in 1984 during construction work for a new pavilion.

Archaeologist Yuri Zadneprovsky and historian Elena Druzhinina, having examined it, were able to prove that this was a public bathhouse dating back to the 10^th-12^th centuries. Perhaps there is some connection with the mausoleum of Asaf ibn Burhia, where the unexplained brickwork of the same era was discovered.

The medieval bathhouse was located within a network of mosques and madrasahs, which were densely built up at the foot of the mountain. In the medieval era, there were two canals, Zhupas-Aryk and Zhannat-Aryk, running alongside the bathhouse. One of them, Zhupas-Aryk, still flows nearby.

Archaeologists identified the bathhouse as public for a number of reasons. First, it was dug in the ground, typical of public bathhouses of that period. Secondly, the size and number of premises also suggest it was freely available to many people. The rooms that have been uncovered contain remnants of waterproof plaster.

Archaeologists have managed to clear an area of about 500 square metres, unearthing the remnants of about 15 rooms of various sizes and purposes. The bathhouse was rebuilt several times. It was divided into three parts: northern, southern and central. The entrance to the bathhouse was on the north side, which is indicated by a rounded foyer made of large paving stones. There is no such pavement on the south side.

According to scientists, the widespread use of tile cladding, the construction of the bathtubs and the combination of brick columns, grooves and heating channels marks the Osh bathhouse as a relative of the bathhouses in Akhsikent (Uzbekistan). From the 10^th to the 13^th centuries, Akhsikent was one of the major Karakhanid cities in the Ferghana Valley, but it was completely destroyed by a strong earthquake in 1620.