Rooms with heating

We continue documenting the rooms that have a heating system. As a matter of archaeological strategy it was decided to enlarge the excavation area by of 100 m2 (1076 sq feet) during this campaign, since it is necessary to define the whole sector. Overall, it appears that there are three different areas (with the possibility of a forth one existing) where we still see the imprints of brick pilae through which warm air could circulate.

At the same time we proceed to complete the excavation of the heated zone (where we just need to determine if a space clogged with accumulations of ash corresponds with praefurnium), we continue with the cleaning of the already mentioned mosaic floor that has better preserved parts than others, due to the intrusion of medieval burials. The mosaic pavement has a compositional pattern already observed in the previous season: floral octagons arranged around the emblem.



Translated by Lara M. Moreda
Edited by Andrew B. Greeves



Cleaning up the mosaic floor

The archaeological excavation continues, even though it has become more complicated than in previous seasons due to the harsh terrain. The dropout level, basically composed of residues from the late Empire building bricks, has been almost entirely removed. Under it, the anthropogenic evidence shows, almost certainly, how this sector of the villa had a heating system, in addition to the rooms mentioned before (where imprints of brick pilae were found, through them the hot air circulated). We have found the existence of a sector clogged with ashes and burnt adobes.

Moreover, we have also begun the cleanup of the mosaic floor located in the great room found in the previous season and not fully excavated. As is usual, to carry out cleaning we establish a reduced working area, leaving 10 cm (4 inches) of soil on the surface of the tiles. The soil is removed manually, with spatulas, and the crust of calcium carbonate with a scalpel. This operation is performed before the loss of moisture in the tesserae.



Translated by Lara M. Moreda
Edited by Andrew B. Greeves



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