Analysis and Characterization of the Soteria Mosaic in the Antakya Museum with Archeometric Techniques

Abstract

Mosaic, like all other branches of art, is one of the most important aesthetic ties that human beings establish with the world. When we look at the mosaic, we can see the changing traces of the past and relive the time that has been forgotten for a long time. Mosaic is an eternal art that has endured natural conditions such as wind and rain and has survived to the present day with slight damages. This study was carried out in three stages. First, the stone tessera of the Soteria mosaic were color analyzed using the portable Color Detector X-Rite CAPSURE precision color measuring instrument. The tesserae were then analyzed using the Energy Dispersive Portable X-Ray Fluorescence Spectrometer device, which is a non-destructive method for quantitative analysis of its elements. In the next stage, petrographic analysis was performed in laboratory environment to determine the rock type and minerals of 10 stone tessera belonging to the Soteria mosaic. As a result, the examination of the qualities and contents of the materials used in the mosaics; By establishing a connection between the past, present and future, it will be able to make important contributions in revealing the reasons why the mosaics have survived to the present day.

Keywords

• Archaeometry
• mosaic
• petrographic
• Color Detector
• tessera
• P-EDXRF.

References

1. [1]. Anonymous, Art and Design, Mosaic Analysis, Ministry of National Education, Ankara, 3-5, 2015.
2. [2]. A.C. Üstüner, Mosaic Art, Engin Matbaacılık, Istanbul, 2002.
3. [3]. A. Courtille, Konstantinopolis Mozaikçisi, Menekşe Tokyay, Doğan Kitapçılık, İstanbul, 2004.
4. [4]. D. Tabanlı, Examination of Roman Period Mosaics on the Example of Ephesus, Master's Thesis, Dokuz Eylül University Institute of Fine Arts, Department of Ceramics, Izmir.
5. [5]. Hatay Archeology Museum House of Mosaics, 2015, https:// www.rotasenin. com/ hatay-arkeoloji-muzesi (Date of Access: 24.07.2022). 2007.
6. [6]. N. Efe, Analysıs of Materıals Used In Mosaic Makıng, Master's Thesis, İstanbul Technıcal University Instıtute of Scıence and Technology, İstanbul, 2009.
7. [7]. T. Uğur, Characterization of mosaic mortars belonging to the ancient city of Perge, Istanbul University / Institute of Social Sciences / Department of Conservation and Restoration of Movable Cultural Assets. 2011.
8. [8]. M. Sahin, Mosaic Art Antakya and Zeugma Mosaics Painting Analysis, Master's Thesis, Anadolu University Institute of Fine Arts. Eskisehir, 2010.

9. [9]. M. Aydın, A. Zararsız and S. Demirci, Archaeometric Studies on Some Finds Obtained from the Late Roman-Early Byzantine Period Ankara Maltepe Rescue Excavation, 26. Archaeometry Excavation Results Meeting, Istanbul, 2010.
10. [10] M. Aydın, Ensuring the Return of the Stolen Original Golden-Winged Seahorse (Hippocampus) to Turkey by Portable X-Ray Fluorescence Spectrometry Method, Turkish Academy of Sciences Journal of Archaeology (TÜBA-AR), 20, 147-157. 2017.
11. [11]. Digital Archaeological Archive of Comparative Slavery, 2019, (https://www. Daacs.org/about-the-database/database-structure/context-table/) History of Agriculture. 24.07.2022. [12]. N. Rajakaruna, RS. Boyd, Serpentine Soils. In: Oxford Bibliographies in Ecology. Ed. David Gibson, Oxford University Press, New York. 2014.
12. [13]. E. Özdemir, B.G. Özbey, L. Kurt, A. Bölükbaşı, Serpentine Ecology And Contributions To The Serpentine Flora Of Turkey, Journal Of Soil Science And Plant Nutrition, 5 (1), Ankara, 22-33. 2017.
13. [14]. M. Önal, K. Karaman, Faculty of Engineering Department of Mining Engineering, Minarets, (https://slideplayer.biz.tr/slide/292.
14. [15]. G. Buisson, M. Leblanc, Gold-bearing listwaenites (carbonatized ultramafic rocks) from ophiolite complexes. In Metallogeny of Basic and Ultrabasic Rocks, Gallagher JM, Ixer RA, Neary CR (eds). Transactions - Institution of Mining and Metallurgy: London; 121–132. 1986.
15. [16]. A. Atasoy, Soil Geography of Hassa District (Hatay), International Journal of Social Research, 10 (48), 256-257. 2017.