Pautaliya, Archaeological site in Kyustendil, Bulgaria.
Pautaliya is an ancient settlement that sprawls across a substantial area with Roman fortifications, bathing complexes, and administrative structures from multiple periods. The layout reveals how different buildings served distinct purposes within a organized urban center.
The settlement began as a Thracian village and was transformed into the Roman city of Ulpia Pautalia during Emperor Hadrian's time. This marked the start of its growth into a significant administrative hub.
The settlement served as a gathering place for worship and healing, drawing people from surrounding regions who sought relief through sacred springs. Religious practices here blended traditions from the local population with those of Roman newcomers.
The archaeological site can be explored on the ground while ongoing excavations continue to uncover artifacts that are preserved in the Regional History Museum of Kyustendil. Visitors can see coins, sculptures, and everyday objects displayed there.
The site featured an advanced bathing system that used underground heating channels to warm water from natural springs for medical purposes. This engineering demonstrates how central thermal healing was to daily life here.
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