Sinop Balatlar Excavation Pebble Mosaic Pavement

Abstract

During the 2022 Sinop Balatlar Excavation, a pebble stone mosaic floor was unearthed. The design of the mosaic, which adorns the andron room of a private residence, is U-shaped and the east-west kline sections are planned without decoration. The pebble floor placed horizontally and vertically on a pink nucleus is called the “hedgehog” model. Surrounded by ranke, wave and palmette motifs, a small part of the mosaic, which we think shows a flying Eros and his wingtips on it, has been preserved in the southwestern corner of the main panel. It is very important with the placement technique of the stones on it and the pattern repertoire created with white pebbles on a black ground. Compared to contemporary examples, the pebble mosaic dated to the end of the 5th century BC includes the Gordion and Olynthos mosaics, where the mosaic tradition in Asia Minor dates back, it occupies an important place in the ancient mosaic chronology as it indicates its existence in the 5th century BC.