UNL professor unearths largest Roman mosaic ever found

Source: Omaha World Herald

By Sarah Baker Hansen

University of Nebraska-Lincoln art history professor Michael Hoff recently uncovered the largest Roman mosaic ever found.

In southern Turkey, Hoff's team uncovered 40 percent of the meticulously crafted, 1,600-square-foot decorative work built during the third and fourth centuries. It's believed to be the biggest mosaic of its type, Hoff said.

The discovery will aid researchers studying the region. Since 2005, Hoff's team has been excavating the remains of the ancient city of Antiochia ad Cragum on the southern Turkish coast. Antiochus of Commagene, a client-king of Rome, founded the ancient city in the middle of the first century.

Excavation work has focused on a third-century temple dedicated to the Roman imperial cult, and also a colonnaded street lined with commercial shops. In July, the team began to explore the mosaic, which was part of a Roman bath. The decoration consists of large squares, each filled with different colored geometric designs and ornamentation.

FULL story at link.



Read more: http://www.omaha.com/article/20120913/LIVING/120919867/1685#unl-professor-unearths-largest-roman-mosaic-ever-found

---

Photo: http://www.omaha.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?Site=OW&Date=20120913&Category=LIVING&ArtNo=120919867&Ref=AR&Profile=1685&maxw=598&maxh=400

The Roman mosaic measures served as the forecourt for the adjacent large bath. Hoff's team unearthed about 40 percent of the mosaic this summer and hopes to uncover the rest of the mosaic next summer.