Ancient repairs in mosaics

Mosaics have been an important decorative item since they were first created. The mosaics, which give the effect of a visual feast wherever they located, were destroyed for various reasons during the period they were used, and after this destruction, they were repaired with various techniques and brought back to use. The repair marks on the mosaics do not only provide information about the technique applied, but also contain clues about the periodic or regional development of the mosaic art. These are the effects that reflect the daily lives and social thinking of the people of the period. When antique mosaic repairs are examined, it is understood that they were not made within the framework of any rule or discipline, but were applied with an understanding and way of thinking. The mosaic floors, which were damaged due to use, as a result of a disaster and as a result of deliberate destructions, were repaired in accordance with different understandings. The size, nature (compatibility / incompatibility) of the repair, environmental conditions, the nature of the building, the location of the mosaic, the conditions of the period are the factors that determine the quality of the repair. Apart from these, the use of unique materials, the method and the method of application directly affected the quality of the repair. These restoration practices give important information about the ancient period restoration works, as well as the reasons for their preference and differences in their application. This thesis study aimed to provide information about whether there is an integrity and style in restoration practices from early period mosaics to late period mosaics. Keywords: Ancient Repair, Mosaic, Destruction, Tessera, Restoration