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Wall foundations of early roman villa

Description:
Part of the original destruction layer of House alpha was investigated in the northern end of the current trench. Below the debris of shattered wall blocks and numerous fragments of coloured plaster, excavations revealed a segment of a wall dividing rooms designated as loci 2 and 3 of the Early Roman villa. This wall was 0. 52- 0.55 m wide and was found to run over a distance of 1.30 m. The blocks in it are partly cracked and dislocated, in a manner reminiscent of earthquake destruction. A similarly constructed segment of wall ( only 1 m long) was discovered limiting room no. 2 on the north side. Both walls rise barely one course of blocks above the footing, that is, some 20-30 cm above the level of the mosaic floors. Easily discernible ghost walls permitted their course to be traced. In certain areas (north, west and east walls of loc. 2), some sections of the foundations, made of small blocks of varying size bonded in clay, were revealed. For more information, see progress report 2 or the Final Report. The significant difference of levels between the floors and the foundations of the Byzantine structures aboves, required either the missing Early Roman walls to be reconstructed to the height of 3-4 courses (1.5-2.0 m), or else entirely new casing walls to be erected. Both methods were taken advantage of depending on the local conditions. For example, the outer wall, enclosing rooms 2,5, and 6 from the east, was rebuilt using new limestone blocks (sizes and bonding identical to the original ones known from other buildings excavated at the site) as well as blocks found in the debris. For more details refer to p.55 in the Final Report.
Date:
July 24, 1998
Resource Type:
still image
Photographer:
Brock, Edwin
Collection:
Villa of the Birds Mosaic Conservation
Wall foundations of early roman villa

Mosaic A5 before conservation

Description:
Notably asymmetrical, the composition, executed in opus tessellatum technique, is situated in a room (possibly a cubiculum) between A2 and A6. Each of the seven preserved figural panels represent different species of birds (duck, heron, parrot, peacock, quail, pigeons and a couple of pigeons drinking water). Some of the panels have additional decorative elements (cups, flowers, fruits and Floral motifs). Mosaic A5 suffered extensive damage; including burning; loss of 30% of its surface; and mechanical damages. Conservation measures included: documentation (photographs and tracing); cleaning; modern interventions reversed; lime mortar protective band on mosaic edges; weak tesserae were treated with Paraloid B-60 diluted in ethanol; some fragments were reconstructed using retrieved original material. After reconstruction of the wall foundations, missing parts of the mosaic bedding and big lacunae were filled with new mortar and gravel.For more information, refer to the Final report or Progress Report 5.
Date:
July 8-24, 1998
Resource Type:
still image
Photographer:
Brock, Edwin
Collection:
Villa of the Birds Mosaic Conservation
Mosaic A5 before conservation

Late Roman buildings and shelter, 5 years after project conclusion

Description:
The mosaic floors are situated in the lowest point of the excavations, about 1.8 m below the surrounding area. Significantly lower than the level of the nearby modern sewage, project staff took advantage of the ancient sewage system to solve the issue of drainage, especially for rainwater. For more details, refer to the Final Report.
Date:
September, 2005
Resource Type:
still image
Photographer:
Dobrowolski, Jaroslaw
Collection:
Villa of the Birds Mosaic Conservation
Late Roman buildings and shelter, 5 years after project conclusion

Reconstruction of villa alpha wall

Description:
The significant difference of levels between the floors and the foundations of the Byzantine structures above, required either the missing Early Roman walls to be reconstructed to the height of 3-4 courses (1.5-2.0 m), or else entirely new casing walls to be erected. Both methods were taken advantage of depending on the local conditions. For example, the outer wall, enclosing rooms 2,5, and 6 from the east, was rebuilt using new limestone blocks (sizes and bonding identical to the original ones known from other buildings excavated at the site) as well as blocks found in the debris. For more details refer to p.55 in the Final Report.
Date:
October 10, 1998
Resource Type:
still image
Photographer:
Brock, Edwin
Collection:
Villa of the Birds Mosaic Conservation
Reconstruction of villa alpha wall

Cleaning Mosaic A2

Description:
Located in the north-eastern corner of the villa, the motif of mosaic A2, executed in opus tessellatum technique, was one of the most popular ornaments found on Roman mosaic floors in Egypt. In this instance, the pattern was arranged with big tesserae of irregular shape and roughly cut. A coin of Hadrian’s reign was found under this floor. Project staff succeeded in uncovering the previously unexplored central fragment and north-western corner of this mosaic. Briefly, the state of the mosaic can be summarized with: tesserae loss along the borders, 15% of the original surface missing, small lacunae filled with cement in the 70s, distorted and sagged surface,and bedding mortar weakened. Some conservation measures included: mechanical/chemical cleaning of the surface; removal of cement infillings (70s intervention); reintegration of lacunae, reconstruction of edges; and stabilization of some areas.
Date:
May - July 1998
Resource Type:
still image
Photographer:
Brock, Edwin
Vincent, Robert
Collection:
Villa of the Birds Mosaic Conservation
Cleaning Mosaic A2

Mosaic A6 after conservation

Description:
It should be assumed that most of the mosaics in house alpha could be dated to the first half of the second century AD. Mosaic A6 appears to be slightly earlier and may have been executed even at the very end of the 1st or beginning of the 2nd century AD. The original design of the emblem was altered in antiquity as a result of reparations. Out of the original hunting scene, only the panther remained alongside two little horns of a goat beside the left leg. This motif related to the Dionysiac mythology is a rare occurrence for Egyptian mosaic floors. The emblema was made in opus vermiculatum technique. Briefly, the state of the mosaic can be summarized with: 20% of the original surface is missing; tesserae losses along the edges; mosaic A7 was superimposed on its surface, amongst other distortions. Reinforcements, partial reconstructions, cleaning and other conservation measures were undertaken as necessary. For more details, refer to Progress Report 5 or the Final Report.
Date:
May 1999 - April 2000
Resource Type:
still image
Photographer:
Brock, Edwin
Vincent, Robert
Collection:
Villa of the Birds Mosaic Conservation
Mosaic A6 after conservation

Limestone cornice fragment in situ

Description:
A large and well preserved fragment of entablature found directly on top of the courtyard pavement could provide a hint as to the architectural decoration of the house. It combines the Doric triglyph with elements of the Ionic cornice in a syncretic approach to architectural decoration that was common in Greco-Roman Alexandrian art. For further details on the architectural remains of Early Roman villa Alpha, see the Final report or Progress Report 2.
Date:
July 8-9, 1998
Resource Type:
still image
Photographer:
Brock, Edwin
Collection:
Villa of the Birds Mosaic Conservation
Limestone cornice fragment in situ

Excavations in Late Roman building B

Description:
Rodziewicz believed that Building B was the latest structure to be found in all of the domestic quarter then excavated. It was constructed in the second half of the 6th century AD and did not go out of use before the middle of the 7th century. The rectangular layout included four rooms of a similar size set in a row. Three small units (b1-b4) were added on to the front elevation in the 7th century. The structure appears to have served some domestic purposes, either as stores or workshops. The walls survived relatively high only in the eastern part. The remaining walls, especially the western elevation and the partition walls preserved only the bottom parts. The foundations of most of these walls., made of loose small stones, furnace refuse, and brick debris, were rather shallow, reaching no more than 0.80-1.00 m below the occupational levels, that is, ca. 0.50-0.60 m above the mosaic floors found underneath. Some sections of the walls of the building B were reconstructed in the seventies. The need to uncover surviving mosaics of the house alpha, as well as overall plan of the mosaic exhibition required the removal of both some of these low-surviving Late Roman walls and fragments reconstructed in the seventies (Final Report).
Date:
May 14-16, 1998
Resource Type:
still image
Photographer:
Brock, Edwin
Collection:
Villa of the Birds Mosaic Conservation
Excavations in Late Roman building B

Exterior of shelter after construction

Description:
In order to protect the mosaics within their original context, a 15 x 12 m shelter was built to prevent damage from detrimental atmospheric factors, especially rainwater. The shelter protects the mosaic floors from direct sunshine (staving the risk of thermal expansion) and possible damage from visitors. As they are situated 1.5 m below ground level, a footbridge was constructed for viewers. There are no internal supports to conflict aesthetically with the remaining ancient ruins. The shelter's outer wall was designed to adjust to the existing walls of the Byzantine building. In places where the walls did not survive or were preserved in lower course, new walls made of security glass panels were introduced. For more details on the shelter design, refer to the Final Report or the Progress Reports.
Date:
May 1999 - April 2000
Resource Type:
still image
Photographer:
Brock, Edwin
Vincent, Robert
Dobrowolski, Jaroslaw
Collection:
Villa of the Birds Mosaic Conservation
Exterior of shelter after construction

Clearing and cleaning Mosaic A5

Description:
Notably asymmetrical, the composition, executed in opus tessellatum technique, is situated in a room (possibly a cubiculum) between A2 and A6. Each of the seven preserved figural panels represents different species of bird (duck, heron, parrot, peacock, quail, pigeons and a couple of pigeons drinking water). Some of the panels have additional decorative elements (cups, flowers, fruits, and Floral motifs). Mosaic A5 suffered extensive damage; including burning; loss of 30% of its surface; and mechanical damages. Conservation measures included: documentation (photographs and tracing); cleaning; modern interventions reversed; lime mortar protective band on mosaic edges; weak tesserae were treated with Paraloid B-60 diluted in ethanol; some fragments were reconstructed using retrieved original material. After the reconstruction of the wall foundations, missing parts of the mosaic bedding and big lacunae were filled with new mortar and gravel. For more information, refer to the Final Report or Progress Report 5.
Date:
May - June, 1998
Resource Type:
still image
Photographer:
Brock, Edwin
Vincent, Robert
Collection:
Villa of the Birds Mosaic Conservation
Clearing and cleaning Mosaic A5

Mosaic A3 after conservation

Description:
Mosaic A3 is the biggest mosaic floor, it decorate the triclinium (main reception room of the villa). It was made in two techniques and arranged in a U + T pattern. It sustained extensive damages, especially along the borders where the stone walls were plundered. As with other mosaics, a fire had caused damage as well. The conditions of the opus tessellatum and opus sectile varied significantly. The former in relatively good condition while the latter was significantly damaged. Modern repairs were removed, however ancient repairs were preserved despite being executed with big marble slabs chosen at random causing deformation and distortion of the surface. Conservation measures included the reconsolidation of loose tesserae and the partial reconstruction of fragments. For more information on conservation measures for the mosaics, refer to Progress Report 5 or the Final Report.
Date:
May 1999 - April 2000
Resource Type:
still image
Photographer:
Brock, Edwin
Collection:
Villa of the Birds Mosaic Conservation
Mosaic A3 after conservation

Moasic A5 during conservation

Description:
Notably asymmetrical, the composition, executed in opus tessellatum technique, is situated in a room (possibly a cubiculum) between A2 and A6. Each of the seven preserved figural panels represents different species of bird (duck, heron, parrot, peacock, quail, pigeons and a couple of pigeons drinking water). Some of the panels have additional decorative elements (cups, flowers, fruits, and Floral motifs). Mosaic A5 suffered extensive damage; including burning; loss of 30% of its surface; and mechanical damages. Conservation measures included: documentation (photographs and tracing); cleaning; modern interventions reversed; lime mortar protective band on mosaic edges; weak tesserae were treated with Paraloid B-60 diluted in ethanol; some fragments were reconstructed using retrieved original material. After the reconstruction of the wall foundations, missing parts of the mosaic bedding and big lacunae were filled with new mortar and gravel. For more information, refer to the Final Report or Progress Report 5.
Date:
July 24 - October 1998
Resource Type:
still image
Photographer:
Brock, Edwin
Vincent, Robert
Collection:
Villa of the Birds Mosaic Conservation
Moasic A5 during conservation