Abstract
In the present study, mortar samples from the substrate of two mosaic floors from two Late Roman urban villae from Ancient Messene are examined. Mortar fragments with stone tesserae imprints are documented via photogrammetry, providing high-precision digital three-dimensional models. The preliminary observations of polished mortar matrices are focused on the morphological characteristics and determine the points of interest for further analysis. Petrographic examination performed on mortar thin sections and Scanning Electron Microscopy coupled with Energy Dispersive Spectrometer (SEM/EDS) help towards mortars’ compositional and morphological characterization. Binder and aggregate components were analyzed with an X-ray Diffractometer (XRPD) for their mineralogical characterization. In addition, the aggregate distribution of the fine and coarse fractions according to the standard ASTM:C136/C136M − 14, the amount of binder, the type of aggregates and some of the mortar properties were determined. The same mortar materials were analyzed for their mineralogical composition and a focused analysis was carried out for the high percentage of aggregates fine fraction.
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