Mosaic Artist Leaves 1,700-Year-Old Footprint in the Mud
Photo: Nikki Davidoff
Marking a new coat of cement with your name is one of the little mischief’s almost everyone has done in their lifetime, but apparently this tradition goes a long way back.
This week, archeologists working on the preservation of one of Israel’s most exquisite mosaics were stunned to find the artists’ and workers’ footsteps in the ground beneath the tiles.
Photo: Nikki Davidoff
The Lod Mosaic is considered one of the most elaborate pieces of art found in Israel. First discovered in 1996, the mosaic once tiled the floor of a wealthy Roman’s villa 1,700 years ago. The mosaic is comprised of three different sections depicting various wildlife scenes, including birds, mammals and plants, alongside merchant ships and other naval vessels that roamed the Mediterranean.
For the past 13 years, since its first unearthing, the mosaic was reburied underground in order to be excavated once again, when archaeologists had the right budget and tools to preserve it.
As work got underway this past summer, the slabs of mosaic removed presented archeologists with an authentic signature.
“We usually remove the mosaic in order to see the technique used by the artists, and check if they traced a sketch according to which the tiles should be placed,” says Jack Nagar, Head of the Department of Preservation at Israel’s Antiquities Authority. “When we removed the mosaic we were stunned to discover the workers’ footsteps preserved in the mud and plaster. In all, we found six pairs of feet, some barefoot and some with sandal marks, which resemble what we wear on our feet today.”
The preserved mosaic, along with the footprints, will be exhibited in the future in a special center that will be built on-site in Lod. The new center will allow visitors to observe and take photos, but it will ensure no new footprints are made.
Photo: Nikki Davidoff
Leave a reply