Remarkable mosaic found in ancient home built into a hill in France. Take a look
Archaeologists began working on the site looking over the town of Alès in February, and have now revealed the discoveries made there, according to a June 24 news release from the French National Institute for Preventive Archaeological Research.
The site dates to between the second and sixth centuries, and at least four homes have been uncovered, partially built into the rock of the hill, archaeologists said.
They are well-preserved, archaeologists said, which is not only indicative of the expertise of the builders in their construction, but also in their water management.
The walls of the homes are lined with an internal layer of clay that would have prevented water from seeping through limestone banks in the hill and into the homes, particularly during bad weather, archaeologists said.
On the clay, there are remnants of wall paintings, though they are now rare and hard to read.
One home, with a total area of more than 8,000 square feet, was built into two phases, archaeologists said.
Some of the stone used to create the home was part of the earth, while other parts of the building are made from beaten sediment, according to the release. Concrete pavers with small pieces possibly used to create mosaics were also found.
On the east side of the building a makeshift rainwater drainage system was built by cutting the ends off amphorae, or vases, and fitting them into one another, archaeologists said. This was likely used to bring water off the roof away from the home.
The most remarkable find, however, was discovered in the state room of a domus, or a Roman house built in an urban area and typically occupied by a wealthy family, according to the release.
A roughly 12 foot by 15 foot mosaic was laid into the floor in a geometric pattern using black, white and red colors, photos show.
The red was a deep shade, archaeologists said, meaning it may have been made from a precious pigment, and analysis will be needed to determine if the color was derived from cinnabar, a mineral like mercury sulfide.
There were also a few yellow tiles, which archaeologists called peculiar.
Around the main pattern were entire sections of white tiles without any pattern, and they may have been used as smaller alcoves or to denote special arrangements of furniture or a bench, archaeologists said.
One side also has a pattern of white crosses on a black background, which likely indicated an opening that could have led to another room that wasn't preserved, according to the release.
Studying the organization of the building will confirm its use as a domus, archaeologists said.
During the excavations, archaeologists also uncovered 10 graves dating to the Late Antiquity period, or the mid-fifth century to the end of the sixth century, according to the release.
Two graves in the same style were found separate from the other 10, archaeologists said.
The land, now terraced, had been previously transformed in the 16th and 18th centuries, and the terraces were created and reworked during the 19th century, according to the release.
Alès is a town in southern France, just southwest of the Alps.
Google Translate was used to translate the news release from the French National Institute for Preventive Archaeological Research.
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