Non-Destructive and Micro-Invasive Techniques for Characterizing the Ancient Roman Mosaic Fragments

Rodica Mariana Ion,Sofia Teodorescu,Denis P Kozlenko,Anca Irina Gheboianu,Madalina Elena David,Raluca Maria Stirbescu,Ramona Marina Grigorescu,Ioan Alin Bucurica,Lorena Iancu,Alexander V Belushkin,Bulat A Bakirov,Cristiana Radulescu,Sergey E Kichanov,Ioana Daniela Dulama

doi:10.3390/app10113781

Abstract

The color characteristics, vibration spectra, phase and mineral composition, internal structural organization of several fragments of the ancient Roman mosaics from the Roman Mosaic Museum, Constanta, Romania were studied by non-destructive (Chromatic analysis, Neutron Diffraction, Neutron Tomography) and micro-invasive techniques (Optical Microscopy, X-ray Diffraction, Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy–Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy, Raman Spectroscopy, Wavelength Dispersion X-ray Fluorescence). These investigations were performed in order to characterize the original Roman mosaic fragments. The major and minor phase components of the studied mosaic fragments were determined, the crystal structure of the main phases was analyzed, and their three-dimension spatial arrangement was reconstructed. The similar composition of the major phases of all mosaic fragments can indicate a generic recipe for making mosaic elements, but minor phases were presumably added for coloring of mosaic pieces. Some degradation areas inside the volume of the mosaic fragments were found by means of neutron diffraction and neutron tomography methods. These degradation areas are probably related to the formation of iron hydroxides during chemical interactions of mosaic fragments with the sea and urban polluted atmosphere.

Highlights

One of the most important tasks of archeology and other history-related sciences is the comprehensive study of cultural heritage items
Optical microscopy was performed with a Primo Star microscope (Primo Star, Carl Zeiss AG, Oberkochen, Germany) in transmitted light
The capabilities of various methods were demonstrated. It is the first time this historical edifice has been studied through some and these will provide a basis for future work on the classification and notification of numerous mosaics representative fragments

Summary

Introduction

One of the most important tasks of archeology and other history-related sciences is the comprehensive study of cultural heritage items. A mosaic, as part of the universal cultural heritage, is an ancient art, where small pieces of various materials like glass and stones were used to create patterns and images. As a bright representative of the cultural heritage of the Roman and Byzantine era, a well-preserved mosaic fragment in the historical center of Constanta, Romania can be taken into consideration. Those large area fragments, which were discovered in 1959, are believed to date somewhere back in the reign of the Emperor Constantine the Great (306-337 AD), in which the Tomis Fortress was built [9].

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Conclusion