The transition from Hellenistic to Roman and Byzantine mortars in Greece

Abstract eng:
Bulk samples of mortars were collected from Hellenistic, Roman, and Byzantine historic constructions. The main scope of this work is to investigate the technological transition from simple lime based systems to advanced hydraulic materials. Hellenistic mortar did not bring a significant change to architectural design. However, Roman opus caementicium enabled the construction of vaults with a mechanical behavior of an inert monolith; the rapidly hardened Byzantine mortar with its concrete-like strength provided a monolithic effect on lighter vaulted structures. Thus, the compositional variations of mortars resulted in structural solutions that relate to the evolution of architectural styles, typology and morphology. The scientific analysis will aid archaeological research and make it possible to use mortar technology as a tool to date constructions discovered within excavations. The samples were characterised in terms of their isotopic, chemical and mineralogical composition. The C and O isotopic composition of the calcite was analysed to get knowledge about the environmental conditions during calcite formation making possible to distinguish different mortar technologies. Compositional and morphological analyses were achieved using energy dispersive X-ray analysis in the scanning electron microscope while the mineralogical phases were detected using X-ray diffraction and petrographic (polarised optical microscopy) analysis. Compositional and mineralogical analysis elucidated that Hellenistic mortars encompass a mixture of lime and silicate aggregates, Roman mortars are composed of hydraulic lime and ceramic or quartz aggregates and Byzantine samples follow the cocciopesto technique.

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