About this lecture
As part of the meetings “Neue Forchungen-Nuove Ricerche” organized by the Deutsches Archäologisches Institut Rom (German Archaeological Institute of Rome) on Thursday the 26th of February 2015, Roberto Nardi presented the outcomes of the conservation project of the mosaics of Zeugma, Turkey. Zeugma archaeological site was in the international spotlight following a cry for attention by the New York Times, in 2000.
Zeugma’s invaluable archaeological heritage was threatened by the building of a dam on the Euphrates River, which was going to flood two thirds of the ancient city within a few months. Thanks to generous funding by the Packard Humanities Institute (PHI) a conservation and excavation emergency plan was implemented. For six months CCA conservators were fighting against time and the rising water level, managing to remove from the site 4000 finds, 160 square meters of surfaces, and to protect 8700 square meters of archaeological structures before the flood.
Prof. Nardi also presented the conservation project carried out by CCA in the years following the flood. It involved finds removed from site and 850 square meters of detached polychrome mosaics, now on display in the new Gaziantep Museum.
Speaker(s): Roberto Nardi
Date: February 26th, 2015
Location(s): Deutsches Archäologisches Institut Rom
Organizing Institution(s): Deutsches Archäologisches Institut Rom