Ancient Footprints Under Mosaic

December 15, 2009

The mosaic, a significant discovery located in Lod, is being removed and conserved (see story and picture in October’s Dispatch). In the process, Neguer said it is normal to check the plaster beneath a mosaic to search for notes or marks made by the ancient artists. In addition to the imprints of multiple foot sizes, IAA also found marks made in the plaster by its builders that showed where the tiles of the mosaic, or tesserae, were to be laid. According to Negeur, the footprints also indicated how part of the mosaic work was done. “Based on the concentration of foot and sandal prints, it seems that the group of builders tamped the mortar in place with their feet.”

Aside from the variety of footprints, other factors imply the mosaic was designed by multiple people. Negeur said, “The mosaic consists of three parts that different artists built, probably in different periods. There are different kinds of art here, and we can see that the hand that affixed the tesserae is different: A trained eye recognizes that the preparation which was done prior to the work is different. Besides the necessary professionalism, exposing the footprints is also the result of a lot of luck. It is not always possible to cut the layers of the mosaic precisely so that we discover such a clear picture of the plaster with the incising on it.”

By Joshua Spurlock, BFP Israel Mosaic Radio

 

Photo Credit: Photos by IAA

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