Mosaics in the "New" roman villa

[BoldreChris]

So I'm watching the new series on More4 at the moment (Rome wasn't built in a day) - builders trying to construct a new roman villa using original tools (ish) and they're going to be doing mosaic floors over a hypercaust by the look of it.

I don't think they'll be using any PVA but it might be interesting to see what methods and tools they are allowed to use.

Did anyone here get asked how it might be done?

 

[user123]

ooh, missed that, is it on now? hubby watching something else... as far as I know they used to use sand, clay, lime and water, let me know what else they use, interesting!

 

[tfs]

Im watching this too mate. They will just score and chisel the tiles I reckon. I imagine they will fix the tiles on a wet bed of mortar over a deep hardcore rubble.

I think the romans were one of the first (if not the first) to use the concept of under floor heating. Using an open fire below ground level under buildings

 

[user123]

Ah, is that the program 'Rome wasn't built in a day' starting at 10pm?

 

[BoldreChris]

That's the one - on More4+1, I think - it's just finished now on More4. The bathhouse with UFH and mosaics build seems to be next week but apparently there is a virtual 3D tour on the More4 website. Going to take a look now.

 

[BoldreChris]

Oops - sorry, it was C4 !

 

[BoldreChris]

The virtual tour is here:

Rome Wasn't Built in a Day - Features - Roman Villa Virtual Tour - Channel 4

Go into the "Triclinium" (dining room ?) and look behind you - pretty rough !

 

[user123]

I'm recording it, thanks for that, Chirs, I'll enjoy that! Glad I don't have to sacrifice a sheep! ))

 

[BoldreChris]

That's a bit of a scary start to a new job, isn't it ?

 

[user123]

Ay... :lol: but the reason for it was good, this is going to be so good it will be a treat to watch it when I can devote proper time to it, still pottering about here..

 

[user123]

Wow, watching it now, loving this!!! Knew they used lime, but didn't know how that was produced... and splitting the rocks and the the trees for planks with hand tools only... priceless :lol: Brilliant programme :hurray:

 

[Alberta Stone]

That is some horrible example of tiling, even they weren't that shabby.

 

[Musivarius]

I'm very surprised the archaeologist didn't twig on quicker about the Pozzolan mix (volcanic rock mixed with lime) Even in Roman Britain they had an artificial Pozzolan using ground up pottery shards and slag (waste from the inside of a furnace).
The mosaic floor will be interesting to see ;-)

I did get asked about the mosaic side but it went no further than a couple of calls, I have to baulk at using coloured clay for the mosaic. And as the film company bod said, 'We are talking to another mosaic artist, they don't have your practical experience but they have written a couple of papers which have been published'.

 

[user123]

I'm very surprised the archaeologist didn't twig on quicker about the Pozzolan mix (volcanic rock mixed with lime) Even in Roman Britain they had an artificial Pozzolan using ground up pottery shards and slag (waste from the inside of a furnace).
The mosaic floor will be interesting to see ;-)

I did get asked about the mosaic side but it went no further than a couple of calls, I have to baulk at using coloured clay for the mosaic. And as the film company bod said, 'We are talking to another mosaic artist, they don't have your practical experience but they have written a couple of papers which have been published'.

Ay, that was an oversight and a half by an expert .. I thought of you and wondered if you could be involved in this ... never mind eh?

 

[Musivarius]

I've never been too worried about getting on TV, the resultant publicity can be quite limited. I did have another certain well known archaeological programme ask about me creating, over 3 days part of a mosaic floor, approximately 5' x 3' (10mm tesserae) including a portrait. For which I'd have my expenses paid.......and that's it. It would have been fun to do, if nothing just so people could see just how fast the Romans could have worked. Unfortunately at that time I just couldn't have afforded to do it.

I saw a shot of the mosaic at the beginning of the last one and I'm afraid I was pretty gobsmacked. I'm looking forward to seeing the rest of it.