Rooms in Rome: Production, Function, and Conservation of Ancient Roman Mosaics and Frescoes

Summary

In this poster, we explore the production and conservation of mosaics and frescoes, examining their co-occurrence in high elite domestic spaces and how they reveal the varying function(s) of these spaces. Citing both archaeological examples from Villa Cotanello and Villa di San Cesareo, each about a day’s journey from Rome, as well as museum collections, we emphasize the importance of conservation. Standard archaeological practice often consists of removing objects from in situ contexts and transferring them to a lab for further research. Unfortunately, in many cases, the objects are poorly stored and forgotten, leading to deterioration over time. We argue archaeological projects must prioritize proper storage to avoid deterioration and enhance conservation efforts. This will positively impact how projects approach delicate contexts while strengthening interpretation.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Society for American Archaeology 83rd Annual Meeting, Washington, DC (2018)

Keywords

Record Identifiers

Abstract Id(s): 20725