Abstract:

During the last days of excavations carried out in the ancient city of Hierapolis (Pamukkale) in 2010, a floor mosaic was revealed at the back of the burial chamber in the Church of Saint Philip that was badly damaged due to illegal excavations and earthquakes. So, it was decided to lift the mosaic panels (2 panels) immediately and take it under protection. The mosaic, which was revealed in the last week of the 2010 excavation season, was lifted in 3 days and placed in the depot for conservation work in the next excavation season. During the lifting we took a sample from bedding mortar of the mosaic and we carried out these simple and sophisticated analyses; salt tests, oil and protein tests, loss of ignition, reaction with acid (acid loss), moisture content, SEM-EDX, XRD and Petrographic analysis (thin and thick (lively) sections, Stereo and Polarizing microscope observations) and Particle size distribution analysis. In the 2011 excavation season, the bedding mortar behind the mosaic was cleaned with physical and mechanical methods, and according to the results of the analysis, a conservation mortar suitable for the original mortar was applied to the back of the tessera layer and left to dry for one year. In the 2012 season, the mosaics were transferred to Aerolam panels. After removing the facing layer and final cleaning, conservation activities were concluded. Both panels were placed under protection in the warehouse of Pamukkale museum to later be exhibited in their original place.

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