History

A 2,000-Year-Old Marble Mosaic Floor Emerges from the Sea in Italy

16 August 2024206 Views

Around 100 B.C.E., affluent Romans began constructing villas in Baia, a town situated on the Gulf of Naples. This region was highly favored over other elite retreats like Capri, Herculaneum, and Pompeii due to its serene, resort-like atmosphere and stunning natural beauty. However, Baia is located in an area known as Campi Flegrei, or the Phlegraean Fields, a name derived from the Greek for “burning earth.” The nearby volcano at Baia is part of the Campanian volcanic arc, which also includes Mount Vesuvius, the infamous peak that buried Pompeii in ash during its eruption in 79 C.E. Over time, a volcanic phenomenon called bradyseism—where magma causes the earth’s surface to rise—gradually led to the flooding of the lower part of Baia. In 2002, the Submerged Archaeological Park of Baia was established to preserve and study the region’s unique history. In an excavation this past May, a remarkable discovery was made: an ornate, multicolored marble floor at the base of a collapsed villa, now mostly inhabited by fish. According to a statement from the park, this building, believed to be from the 4th century, represents the largest space of a noble residence, featuring a large semicircular apse at the back and covering an area of over 250 square meters.

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To date the marble floor, archaeologists used various clues, including the type of building where the mosaic was discovered, the construction techniques, and the materials used. The room housing the marble floor is typical of a grand hall, often referred to as a “basilica,” which became fashionable in noble residences by the late 3rd century. The materials used in the design appear to have been repurposed, likely from other floors or walls, leading to variations in thickness. The floor was crafted using the “opus sectile” technique, where small, precisely cut pieces are assembled into intricate patterns. The mosaic first came to light during a storm in 2012, but a formal excavation did not begin until this year due to the need for meticulous planning. According to the park, “The condition of the slabs was severely compromised, both by their original fragmentation and the effects of the sea, which had detached them from the subfloor.” Through careful investigation, the team has uncovered a grid of squares, each about 60 centimeters—or two Roman feet—on each side. These squares were arranged in approximately 20 by 30 rows, totaling around 600 squares.