Browsing by Author "Petrova, Svetla"
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Item On the provenance of the tesserae in the mosaic pavements of Parthicopolis (4th - 6th c.). local quarries, deposits and import (preliminary report for some mosaic tesserae from basilica no 2)(Bursa Uludağ Üniversitesi, 2022-09-22) Petrova, SvetlaThis article examines several mosaic tesserae from the mosaic panel of the exonarthex of the early Christian basilica No 2 in Parthicopolis (today’s town of Sandanski). The studied mosaic tesserae are made of glass, brick and stone - marble and sandstone. After the analysis: micro- and macroscopic, method applied: EDS; XRD analysis of the mineral phases and others. The composition and possible production of glass for the smalta tesserae has been established, the composition of the brick tesserae; of two types of white marble tesserae, of sandstone tesserae has been determined. In antiquity, and especially in the early Byzantine period, several marble quarries of very good quality were exploited in the Middle Strymon area. It has been established that the stone tesserae were mined from deposits around the ancient and early Byzantine city, quarries Ilindentsi (‘The marble quarries of Trajan’), and the glass is imported. An assumption has been made about the possible production on site in the city of a type of glass tesserae - with a degree of crystallization. The chemical and structural analysis of the tesserae reveals the origin of the material, stone and glass, the latter in the form of a finished product distributed as an import by Thessaloniki merchants and undergoing only the final stage of heating, cutting and polishing in local workshops. Although research on the origin of tesserae from mosaic panels from the early Christian basilica complexes in Parthicopolis is only in the beginning, research proves the origin of tesserae materials, the supply of mosaic workshops mainly with local stone material, and trade in imported glass for enamel mosaic and its final stage of in situ preparation in Particopolis.Publication Technology and composition of the mortar and origin of the stone and the smalta tesserae of the early christian mosaics from parthicopolis. the beginning of database on the ancient mosaics from middle strymon(Bursa Uludağ Üniversitesi, 2023-08-16) Petrova, SvetlaThe article presents the results of a study on the mortar and tesserae made of marble, sandstone, brick, and smalta in the mosaic pavement of the exonarthex of Basilica No. 2 in Parthicopolis. This basilica served as an important episcopal center in the province of Macedonia I. The methods employed include macro- and microanalysis, as well as SEM-EDS and XRD analysis of the mineral phases. It has been established that the mosaic was laid on a mortar layer without a statumen and rudus. The study of the mortar revealed the presence of a fine fraction among the tesserae, as well as lumps of lime in the mortar composition, which were reinforced with a fine brick powder. The brick and stone tesserae, including marble and sandstone, originated locally, while the smalta used for the glass tesserae was imported, possibly undergoing secondary processing on-site. The analysis of the smalta composition identified several technological processes, including secondary heating, a significant presence of small air bubbles, and unwanted crystalline impurities. These phenomena likely occurred during the melting, molding, annealing, or secondary processing of sodium-lime-silicate glass. This suggests the possibility of imported manufactured production being remade in situ, demonstrating the utilization of local materials and techniques. The study revealed that the mosaicists possessed a profound understanding of the craft, including a deep knowledge of the underlying processes and a diverse range of technical skills. With this expertise, they were able to successfully achieve the desired result by utilizing local materials