Roman mortars of floor substrates and walls from Arroyo de la Dehesa de Velasco site: petrographic and mineralogical characterization

Author(s): Ainhoa Alonso-Olazabal,, Luis Ángel Ortega, Ma Cruz Zuluaga, Graciela Ponce, Javier Jiménez Echevarría, Carmen Alonso Fernández
Paper category: Proceedings
Book title: Proceedings of the 5th Historic Mortars Conference
Editor(s): José Ignacio Álvarez, José María Fernández, Íñigo Navarro, Adrián Durán, Rafael Sirera
ISBN: 978-2-35158-221-3
e-ISBN: 978-2-35158-222-0
Publisher: RILEM Publications SARL
Publication year: 2019
Pages: 410-423
Total Pages: 14
Language : English

Abstract: Wall and floor mortars a public building from Arroyo de la Dehesa de Velasco site (Burgo de
Osma, Soria, Spain) has been characterised. The site of the early Roman Imperial Period is
related to a bath complex integrated into the settlement around the city of Uxama Argaela.
Optical microscopy and X-ray diffraction techniques were used to characterise the
mineralogical composition of floor and wall mortars. Generally, mortar samples are sandy
siliceous nature with a lime binder matrix. Floor and wall mortars display a multi-layer
structure with siliceous sand aggregates and lime. Compositionally the multilayer mortars
exhibit very similar aggregates and some walls display a cocciopesto layer to prevent damage
due to humidity. Roman standardised techniques were used for both floor and wall
constructions.

Online publication : 2019
Publication type : full_text
Public price (Euros) : 0.00