Introduction
Conservation is the process of preserving cultural heritage for the benefit of future generations. Mosaics present particular challenges, whether in situ on archaeological sites or within museum collections.
Definition
Mosaics in the Classical tradition consist of a surface of small cut cubes (tesserae) of stone, ceramic, or glass (forming the tessellatum), often in a decorative configuration. This is the visible part of a composite structure, with a support of multiple levels of lime mortar and a stone rubble base, many times thicker than the tessellatum itself. The Latin nomenclature for these different layers is known from the writings of the Roman architect Vitruvius. In Roman architecture, the vast majority of mosaics were floor pavements, but they also embellished walls and vaults as well. In other cultures, different materials may be found. The reference in this entry is to Hellenistic/Roman/Byzantine mosaics.
The origin of Classical mosaics is in the Hellenistic...
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Stewart, J. (2014). Mosaics: Conservation and Preservation. In: Smith, C. (eds) Encyclopedia of Global Archaeology. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-0465-2_95
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