Oylum Höyük 2004

Excavations at the 6th c. basilica. In 2004 the building has been unearthened except for the NE corner. The 3-aisle basilica (39,70 x 21,10m) has two phases (first phase and a renovation phase). Two further phases have been observed which have been dated to the Middle ages. In the first phase, the basilica was decorated with polychrome mosaics (opus tessellatum) in red, black, gray, white and yellow. Decoration was in geometric patterns and florals motifs. Mosaic bed consists of fist sized stones (statumen), levelled by a 3-5cm thick layer of mortar (rudus) and ca. 3cm thick upper layer of mortar (nucleus) where the tesserae were placed. Two mosaic inscriptions have been revealed. In inscription 1 only three letters have been preserved: « ΒΑΡ ». In inscription 2 a man called « Aides » from Alassios is mentioned. In the second phase of the basilica the mosaics have been partially renovated. In many areas, patterns have not been copied and continued ; the lacunae were simply filled with plain tesserae. Conservation : The mosaic has been freed of vegetation, the lacunae have been filled with a temporary lime mortar to avoid further disintegration. The inscribed part of the mosaic had to be lifted for a thorough restoration. The pavement has been buried under a thick layer wood shavings and fine sand. Finally both the mosaic and the architecture have been covered with a layer of earth spread over large nylon covers.