A THERMAE AND AQUEDUCT IN ROMAN LEICESTER: RECENT DISCOVERIES AT JEWRY WALL MUSEUM AND THE RAW DYKES.

This article focuses on recent archaeological investigations of the Roman public baths complex (thermae) at Jewry Wall Museum and the associated Raw Dykes earthwork in Leicester (Roman Ratae Corieltauvorum). Excavations by University of Leicester Archaeological Services (ULAS) from 2016 to 2021 revealed new evidence of mid-first-century AD pre-bathhouse activity, early timber structures, and mid-second- to third-century stone bathhouse remains, complementing the seminal 1930s excavations. The Raw Dykes, a large linear earthwork south of the city, is interpreted as a possible Roman aqueduct supplying water to the baths, supported by Roman artifacts recovered from its banks and its structural similarities to known Roman aqueducts, though its exact function remains uncertain. The investigations also documented medieval and post-medieval activity, including evidence of stone robbing and later use of the site, contributing to a more nuanced understanding of Leicester’s Roman urban development and infrastructure.