Foto: Bare foot prints were also found beneath the Lod mosaic (Israel news photo: © Niki Davidov / IAA).

Arqueólogos israelíes han hallado unas huellas humanas de hace 1.700 años en un mosaico en la ciudad de Lod, al desenterrar un mosaico romano para trasladarlo a los laboratorios de conservación.

Vía: Agencia EFE, Jerusalén | Itongadol.com.ar, 14 de octubre de 2009

Las inusuales huellas de un pie y de sandalias típicas de la época son probablemente de los artistas que hicieron el mosaico y aparecieron en la capa de masilla inferior sobre la que se pegaban los fragmentos, informó hoy en un comunicado la Autoridad de Antigüedades de Israel (AAI).

"Es excitante. Es la primera vez que me encuentro una prueba humana como ésta bajo un mosaico", afirma en la nota Jacques Neguer, director del Departamento de Conservación de la AAI.

Las huellas responden a las actuales tallas 34, 37, 42 y 44 (europeas), y serán extraídas para limpieza y documentación.

Posteriormente serán recolocadas en su lugar original con el resto del mosaico.

Uno de los más bellos y grandes hallados en Israel -tiene 180 metros cuadrados-, el mosaico fue descubierto en Lod, al sureste de Tel Aviv, en 1996 pero entonces debió ser enterrado de nuevo pues no existían fondos para las labores de conservación y reconstrucción.

Coloridas alfombras, plantas y animales de distintas especies engalanan la composición, que al parecer fue hecha para la villa de rico ciudadano romano.

Artículo relacionado en Terrae Antiqvae:

El impresionante Mosaico de Lod volverá a ser expuesto

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Ancient Artisans' Footprints Discovered Beneath Lod Mosaic

by Hana Levi Julian, Israel National News.com, Tishrei 26, 5770 / October 14, '09

(IsraelNN.com) The ancient footprints of the artisans who built a stunning 1,700-year-old mosaic floor in Lod were discovered recently, when conservators from the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA) were in the process of detaching the huge work of art from the ground.

As the conservation experts worked on the plaster bedding to be done before detaching the mosaic, they were surprised to notice there were ancient foot and sandal prints beneath it. Clearly, the builders that had worked on the floor sometimes wore their sandals, and sometimes worked in their bare feet.

Foto: A sandal print shows that sometimes the builders wore their shoes (Israel news photo: © Niki Davidov / IAA)

"It's exciting. This is the first time I have ever encountered personal evidence such as this under a mosaic," said Jacques Neguer, head of the IAA Art Conservation Branch, who referred to it as "a real archaeological gem that is extraordinarily well-preserved." When removing a section of mosaic, it is customary to clean its bedding, and that way study the material from which it is made, and the construction stages, Neguer explained. "We look for drawings and sketches that the artists made in the plaster and marked where each of the tesserae will be placed."

Neguer said this is also what happened with the Lod mosaic. "Beneath a piece on which vine leaves are depicted, we discovered that the mosaic's builders incised lines that indicate where the tesserae should be set, and afterwards, while cleaning the layer, we found the imprints of the feet and sandals, sizes 34, 37, 42 and 44." At least one imprint of a sole resembled a modern sandal, he added. Based on the concentration of foot and sandal prints, "it seems that the group of builders tamped the mortar in place with their feet."

Foto: The Lod mosaic is one of the largest and most magnificent ever discovered in Israel (Israel news photo: © Niki Davidov / IAA).

The mosaic is one of the largest and most magnificent ever seen in Israel, but although it was discovered in 1996, it was covered over again when no resources could be found for its conservation. Thirteen years later, the IAA received a contribution from the Leon Levy Foundation specifically earmarked for the preservation and development of the Lod site. The mosaic was re-excavated, exhibited to the public, and then conservators began the delicate process of removing it from the area for treatment in the IAA conservation laboratories in Jerusalem.

Measuring approximately 180 square meters, the mosaic is composed of colorful carpets that depict in exquisite detail mammals, birds, fish, floral species and sailing and merchant vessels that were in use at the time. It is believed that the mosaic floor was part of a villa that belonged to a wealthy man who lived during the Roman period.

The site, which is located in the eastern section of Lod, next to the entrance at Ginnaton Junction, is intended to become a springboard for tourism to the city. It is situated between HeHalutz and Struma Streets, which lead to the open air market and to the city's center.

"It is fascinating to discover a 1,700 year old personal mark of people who are actually like us, who worked right here on the same mosaic," Neguer remarked. "We feel the continuity of generations here."