Preliminary communication

Characterization of Roman mortar from the Mediana archeological site

Gordana A. Topličić-Ćurčić ; University of Nis, Faculty of Civil Engineering and Architecture, Aleksandra Medvedeva 14 Street, 18000, Nis, Serbia
Zoran J. Grdić orcid.org/0000-0002-0653-210X ; University of Nis, Faculty of Civil Engineering and Architecture, Aleksandra Medvedeva 14 Street, 18000, Nis, Serbia
Nenad S. Ristić orcid.org/0000-0002-8201-892X ; University of Nis, Faculty of Civil Engineering and Architecture, Aleksandra Medvedeva 14 Street, 18000, Nis, Serbia
Dušan Z. Grdić ; University of Nis, Faculty of Civil Engineering and Architecture, Aleksandra Medvedeva 14 Street, 18000, Nis, Serbia
Petar B. Mitković ; University of Nis, Faculty of Civil Engineering and Architecture, Aleksandra Medvedeva 14 Street, 18000, Nis, Serbia
Igor S. Bjelić ; University of Nis, Faculty of Civil Engineering and Architecture, Aleksandra Medvedeva 14 Street, 18000, Nis, Serbia
Ana J. Momčilović-Petronijević orcid.org/0000-0001-7224-5590 ; University of Nis, Faculty of Civil Engineering and Architecture, Aleksandra Medvedeva 14 Street, 18000, Nis, Serbia

Abstract

This paper presents the study of the Roman mortar used for construction of floors in the buildings which possessed floor heating system – hypocaust, in the residential villa with the peristyle (Naisus, Serbia). A total of seven samples of mortar from different locations of the villa were examined and analyzed for information about its morphological, mineralogical, chemical and basic physical properties. In order to determine these properties were used: optical microscopy, the scanning electron microscopy (SEM) with EDS analysis, X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD). The mortar is dominantly made of carbonate binder and the aggregate of grain size 0,05 to 2 mm with a rare occurrence of 10 mm grains. Fragments of mortar, grains of limestone, quartz, metarmorphite and vulcanite were used for the mortar aggregate. Usage of crushed brick and reaction rim confirms its function of hydraulic binder. The weak bonds between the aggregate grains and limestone binder facilitate transport of water through the formed transit zones.

Keywords

optical analysis; porosity; Roman mortar; SEM-EDS; XRD; water absorption

Hrčak ID:

116593

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/116593

Publication date:

21.2.2014.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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