Last year, Bowling Green State University asked the ICA to take on a fascinating project. Could we treat a series of mosaic tiles from the ancient city of Antioch (in modern-day Turkey) that date to the 2nd or 3rd century CE? The university wanted both to have the tiles conserved and also for ICA objects conservation staff to offer advice on how best to display these very old and beautiful pieces.
The mosaics, which depict decorative elements such as birds and theater masks, will go through a multi-phase conservation treatment process that will involve: the removal of a previously applied, yellowed coating; surface cleaning; consolidation of crumbling mortar and loose tesserae; and remounting on lightweight, rigid panels. The panels will then be installed under a protective glass layer in the floor of a new theater building that is scheduled to open at Bowling Green in 2011.
