“Flowered carpet” mosaic re-emerges after 62 years

An exceptional mosaic floor from Late Antiquity has re-emerged 62 years after it was hidden in Aquileia, northeast Italy. Dubbed the “flowered carpet” because of its large central panel featuring a delicate floral composition made of multi-colored tesserae, it dates to the 4th century.

The flower carpet mosaic was first discovered in an excavation between 1962 and 1963 during construction of a Carabinieri barracks. It is 10.10 x 7.60 meters (33 x 25 feet), covering a surface area of 818 square feet. The floral center panel is bordered by a guilloche pattern. It is framed by a wider border of white with a thin double border of black tiles, and then again with a broad expanse of white, another thin black border, a thin white one and a final thick border of black reaching to the walls.

It was in extraordinary condition, with only small losses on the flowered carpet and guilloche border. The sections of lost tesserae on the border areas are limited as well, and the vast majority of the entire floor is intact. Evenly spaced pillar bases were found in place, and appear to have been supports for a cover added after the mosaic fell out fashion, as hard as it is to believe. It was likely a simple wood plank floor.

Archaeologist Luisa Bertacchi who led the 1962 excavation team ensured the mosaic was reburied to protect it from damage while the construction was ongoing. The barracks location was moved back to avoid building over the ancient masterpiece. Today the former barracks is being transformed by the Aquileia Foundation into a campus guesthouse with 24 beds for professors and students who are working at the site.

The floor has been covered again, but just to keep it safe over the winter. As soon as warmer weather arrives, the mosaic will be cleaned and conserved and will be put on public display in situ. A wall between the former Carabinieri barracks and the neighboring archaeological site — Roman estate with a luxurious villa — will be demolished so that the connection between the flowered carpet structure and the estate can be studied thoroughly. Archaeologists suspect it may have been one huge residence owned by a wealthy 4th century Aquilean.

Located in the modern-day Italian region of Friuli Venezia Giulia, Aquilea was founded as a military colony of Rome in 181 B.C. It rapidly rose in importance, and by the 2nd century had an estimated population of 200,000 people. In the 4th century when the mosaic was made, the city had an imperial palace and emperors living there. It was one of the empire’s most important cities, which put a major target on its back. It was invaded by the Visigoths under Alaric in 401 A.D., and Atilla the Hun all but razed it to the ground when they attacked in 452. That this mosaic survived the onslaught in such great condition is incredible.

* This article was originally published here