Kahramanmaraş, Merkez, Germanicia Antik Kenti Mozaikli Alan 2009-2010 Yılı Kurtarma Kazısı

Interruption of an illicit dig and start of a rescue excavation in Germanicia (modern Kahramanmaraş). A 42 m2 mosaic pavement decorating the hall of a Roman villa from 3th-4th c. A.D. was found. The mosaic consists of three different panels which represent daily life in ancient Germanicia. The upper panel represents a Roman villa, scenes related to the hunt and domestic animals around fruit trees. The middle panel depicts country life and consists of a male figure wearing a tunic and cloak. Two Roman villae, various domestic and wild animals, as well as fruit trees appear in the panel. The main theme of the lower panel is life in nature; animals such as sheep and a gazelle are depicted around fruit trees in front of two Roman villae. The panels are surrounded by a 30 cm-wide geometric inner border and a 78 cm-wide outer border composed of domestic and wild animals among branches of grapevines. The setting bed of another mosaic has been revealed in the excavation area as well. Marks of metal tools used for lifting the mosaic as well as small in situ fragments of mosaic with a geometric design indicate that this pavement was stolen.