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Archaeological Conservation

  • Stobi
  • Gradsko
  • Stobi
  • North Macedonia
  • Rosoman

Tools

Credits

  • The Conservation Database is the result of a collaboration between: ICCROM (International Centre for the Study of the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property) and AIAC (Associazione Internazionale di Archeologia Classica).
  • ICCROM_logo AIAC_logo

Summary (English)

  • The final phase of the conservation and restoration of the mosaic from the nave of the Old Episcopal Basilica, which was removed from its original position in 1991, was conducted between 18.05.2014 and 07.11.2014. During 2013, the old mortar of the mosaic sections was replaced and the pieces were applied on aerolam panels. Until the beginning of the season in 2014, the sections were adequately stored in the facilities of NI Stobi which prevented additional damage of the mosaic. The goal of the work in 2014 was to relay the mosaic sections in their original position in the Old Episcopal Basilica.

    The mosaic sections (70 in total) were the subject of final work before being transported to the basilica. The activities included removal of the obsolete aerolam and mortar edges which were purposely left during the process of mortar replacement, because it was necessary to wait longer until the lime mortar becomes solid. After the removal, the new edges were consolidated with a solution of ACRIL 33 and water in order to increase their durability for the transport and the relaying on the support platform. Before transportation, all of the sections were preliminary arranged in the working space and then prepared for transport to the Basilica.

    The relaying of the mosaic was done on a steel platform as a support for the mosaic. The platform is an alternative to refilling the excavated area with new soil and setting concrete bedding. The steel platform was built during September by the construction of 11 concrete piers and attachment of series steel beams. The north part of the first phase apse of the Old Episcopal Basilica was also used as carrier for the part of the mosaic that covers it.

    After the construction of the steel support, all of the mosaic sections were moved down to the basilica by a specially-deployed platform in the form of a manual elevator. The process of moving the sections and their relaying was done in two days, and it was followed by photo documentation of the mosaic. The final conservation work included covering of the joints between the sections and their retouch in order to restore the authenticity of the mosaic.

    The gaps where there is no preserved mosaic, as well as the area in the apse of the basilica with preserved negatives in the mortar of an opus sectile mosaic, were covered by non-corroding metal sheet, attached to the supporting platform. The gaps with the sheet were filled by crushed stone with similar colours as the mosaic. This was the last activity in 2014 marking the completion of the conservation, restoration and presentation of the mosaic from the nave of the Epsicopal Basilica.

Director

  • Silvana Blazevska - National Institution Stobi

Team

  • Dragan Vergovski Alpi
  • Jani Antoniev
  • Mishko Tutkovski - NI Stobi
  • Tome Filov
  • Vladimir Simeonov

Research Body

  • National Institution Stobi

Funding Body

  • Ministry of Culture of Republic of Macedonia

Images

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