How to dig up your own mosaic floor

The discovery of a mosaic floor found underneath a house or a vineyard in Italy seems to be recurrent news. I have read a couple of such articles over the past months. Just dig deep enough under the street level, your house or your field and eventually you’ll hit remains from antiquity like surprisingly elaborate mosaicfloors.

[Picture from Edition CNN - Credit Soprintendenza Speciale di Roma/ BNP Paribas Real Estate] 

About six years ago, archaeologists were called in after early remains were spotted during construction works in the residential area of Rome – more precisely on the Aventine Hill, one of the initial seven hills of the city.

The site showed signs of occupation going back to 900 BC. In the middle of the 2^nd century BC, a Roman Domus, a typical residence for the Roman upper class stood on this spot. The black and white mosaic floor that was unearthed has been dated to the 1^st century BC and another fragment from about two centuries later. More black and white mosaics, in geometric patterns this time, are typical for the reign of Hadrian (117-138 AD) and five more mosaics from the days of his successors were uncovered as well.

Instead of moving these floors to a museum and taking them entirely out of their context, it was decided to leave them in situ and to create a museum under the modern apartment block.

This is very exciting news as it reminds me of a similar exhibit in Ravenna. Here the floors of the entire villa from the 6^th century AD were found under the parking garage of an apartment building. These beautiful remains have been made accessible to the public. They go by the name Tapeti di Pietra (carpets of stone), a little gem worth to be seen!

Earlier this year, a well-preserved mosaic floor was found in a vineyard of the Valpolicella area, north of Verona. It has been dated to the 3^rd century AD and displays polychrome patterns both geometric and floral.

[Picture from Comune Negrar di Valpolicella]

The site was known since the 19^th century when the remains of an ancient Roman villa were uncovered. However, pinpointing the exact location of the construction was quite another story. Only sporadic excavations occurred due to a lack of fund or lack of access since the vineyard is still operational.

In spite of the new restrictions around the coronavirus pandemic, the town officials seem very keen to explore the remains of that villa and its treasures pretty soon.