140-142

Arethoussa 2003

• Karivieri, Arja

The Finnish Institute at Athens continued during the summer of 2003 the conservation of the mosaic floors in the Early Christian basilica in Paliambela, Arethousa. The conservation work was financed by the Finnish Cultural Foundation.The conservators S. Vatidis, M. Fallia and R. Köngäs cleaned and documented first the opus sedile pavement, no. 2, in the choir, as well as the adjacent area, no. 11, where the original pavement is missing today. The pavement no. 2 was in a fairly good condition after the first pre-consolidation of the year 2000. The sand and earth as well as small roots on the surface were removed mechanically, the roots were treated with petroleum, and the salts on the surface were removed with water and sponges. The level of the marble plaques were justified, four lithic plaques that were found in the vicinity were added into the lacunae, and the edges were consolidated ((Fig. 1).The opus tessellatum pavement, no. 9, in the northeastern room of the narthex, which is decorated with a geometric design had been partially consolidated in 2000. After the cleaning, the floor was documented. There were roots in the southeastern and southwestern part that had caused lacunae: the roots were treated with petroleum and the visible plant and root remains were removed, the lacunae were cleaned from sand and earth and filled with mortar which in colour resembles the ancient mortar, up to a level that is slightly lower than the original one (Fig. 2).The mosaic floor no. 10, that was revealed southeast of the eastern room of the narthex in 2002, adjacent to the floor no. 9, has a central emblema in opus tessellatum surrounded by lithic and marble plaques, and fragments of roof tiles (Fig. 3: before consolidation). The reddish mortar includes lime, ceramic powder and dust. The floor was cleaned, the plants and roots were removed from the surface, and the deeper roots were treated with petroleum. The lacunae were cleaned and filled with mortar compatible with the ancient, up to a level that is slightly lower than the original, and the loose tesserae were attached to the bedding surface.After the cleaning and documentation, all the floors were covered again with a thick protectve layer of sand. The conservation work will continue in the summer 2004, when the walls will be supported, and a protective shelter is designed and built in cooperation with the 9th Ephoreia of Byzantine Antiquities and the Greek Ministry of Culture.

• History and Archaeology

• Χριστιανικές αρχαιότητες

θρησκευτικά κτήρια, ψηφιδωτά, συντήρηση και αποκατάσταση, Θεσσαλονίκη, συνέδρια

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