⭐ 11: Mosaic as Opus Sectile

Imitation of Colourful ‘Marbles’ on a Mosaic from Neviodunum

Excavations headed by Dr Peter Petru, which were conducted in the village of Drnovo near Krško (Ancient Roman town of Neviodunum) in 1964, revealed a fragmentarily-preserved mosaic paving dating back to the late 2nd century or the early 3rd century. The central paving area is filled with ornamentation that imitates colourful marble slabs in a mosaic technique. The pattern and colours of the ornamental fields allowed identifying the four types of paving rocks.
Floor pavings made of slabs of precious imported colourful marble – opus sectile – were increasingly popular from the early 3rd century onwards. Due to costly extraction and transportation, they were considered a luxury. Imitation marble paving in a mosaic technique proves how valuable and sought-after opus sectile was. This puts Neviodunum on the map of sites with mosaics that feature imitation marble pavings, which are otherwise typical of the Mediterranean and are found mostly in North Africa.
However, it also represents the trend of depicting combinations of various types of ‘marbles’ (opus sectile), which emerged in the late 2nd century and the late 3rd century. In addition to the mosaics from Benghazi, Agrigento, Utica and Rome, it is one of only five sites with mosaics created before the late 3rd century that imitate several different types of marble.

For heritage enthusiasts:

Let’s talk about archaeological excavations
In round 5 of our Museum Stars selection, we highlighted the aspect of how museum objects are included in museum collections and the way they get to the museum. The vast majority of archaeological objects in Posavje Museum Brežice's collections were discovered during archaeological excavations. Excavations are only one of archaeological research methods, they are, however, certainly most characteristic of archaeology and thus also the one the public is most familiar with.
What takes place during archaeological excavations? Of course, we all know that the way treasure hunters' adventures in exotic locations are presented in blockbuster films has little in common with the reality of archaeological work methods. The stereotype of the treasure hunter has its roots in time before archaeology became a scientific discipline. Eager to gain prestige and money, back then individuals filled private and museum collections with valuable objects from all over the world. As opposed to this, archaeology is a scientific discipline that studies human past based on material sources and their contexts.
In practice, this means that the fragment of a vessel, for instance, allows archaeologists to identify the clay preparation, processing and firing process; it means that a buckle allows for extremely accurate dating, while also revealing the sex, social class and status of the person who wore this particular fashion accessory; it also means that an amber-necklace bead is proof of long-distance trade. Another important thing are the circumstances in which an object was discovered – had it been discarded in a waste pit, buried along with the deceased in a grave, had it been destroyed as part of a ritual, lost in a well or discovered in the remains of a burnt-down settlement? In addition to various archaeological finds, there is all sorts of other valuable ‘information’ hidden in the earth's layers that reveals many things about the activities of people in the past, their economy and diet, as well as the environment they lived in. The information is uncovered by studying soils, rocks, pollen, animal and plant remains etc. There is an ever-increasing number of sciences that archaeology work with.
To make sure all the information is collected as carefully as possible, archaeologists have developed a work method based on accurate and real-time recording of all the finds and the earth layers in which the finds are located. The excavation surface with each individual layer and the locations of all discovered finds are measured with great precision and GPS is used to show exactly where they are located. The excavated areas and finds are documented by means of photography and drawing, and each find is carefully stored in suitable packaging with all relevant markings and data.
Such accurate documentation is essential as any excavation is a destructive and unrepeatable process. A piece of information that was not collected is lost forever.
 

From a spade to a trowel. The more precise the work, the smaller the tools.	Archaeologists using precision tools to do work that requires precision and accuracy.	The excavation team at work.

Irreparable damage to archaeological sites is done by modern-day treasure hunters, such as individuals looking for things with metal detectors. They not only appropriate the heritage that belongs to all mankind, but also encroach on the earth's layers, thus destroying the archaeological record that no one else will be able to interpret after their interference.
In summary, archaeological excavations are a research process that provides archaeologists with a large amount of information, which must be properly processed, interpreted and published. The point of science, of course, is to be accessible and available for humans to use. After field reports have been published, the finds and all the related documentation are stored in a museum, where special effort is made to preserve valuable objects and provide all visitors with access to them.
 

The mosaic is being cleaned.	The mosaic is being reinforced before it can be lifted.	Dr Peter Petru and an assistant preparing the mosaic to be lifted.

 

A part of the mosaic reinforced with plaster and ready to be lifted.	The excavated and cleaned mosaic, reinforced with plaster.

For more information see::

• Petru Sonja in Petru Peter: Neviodunum (Drnovo pri Krškem), Katalogi in monografije 15, Ljubljana: Narodni muzej Slovenije, 1978.
• Djurić Bojan: Antični mozaiki na ozemlju SR Slovenije, V: Arheološki vestnik, letnik 27, 1977, Ljubljana: Slovenska akademija znanosti in umetnosti, str. 537.
• Puhar Jana: Neviodunum, rimsko mesto ob reki Savi, Brežice: Posavski muzej Brežice, 2013. 

Prepared by: Jana Puhar

Educational Programme:

Mosaic Making
At the workshop, participants will learn about the concept of mosaics, the history of mosaics and the mosaic-making technology. Based on the motif of mosaics found in the Neviodunum area, they will make a mosaic using small mosaic cubes, which will later be cemented with plaster. A few days later, the products will be finished.
For primary school students the workshop can be supplemented with the lessons on ‘Images of Prehistory’ or ‘During the Roman Empire Era’. Price: € 5.
Please notify us of your planned visit ahead of time: pedagog@pmb.si, +386 7 466 0518



 
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