Pilot project for corpus of the ancient mosaics of Tunisia: Utica area

FAIN: RO-10447-70

University of Iowa (Iowa City, IA 52242-1320)
Margaret A. Alexander (Project Director: April 1970 to present)

Binational U.S.-Tunisian project to publish mosaics of the Utica area of Tunisia as first installment in A Corpus of the Ancient Mosaics of Tunisia. ABSTRACT: Continuation of H68-0-124, binational U.S.-Tunisian project to publish mosaics of the Utica area of Tunisia as first installment in A Corpus of the Ancient Mosaics of Tunisia. Tunisia contains some of finest and most important mosaics of Roman Empire, providing richest documentation available for history of Roman painting. Utica chosen as first area of concentration because of its prominent economic and social position in antiquity. Because of this, enough mosaics were found in area (about 100) to provide data on variety of types (figurative and decorative), styles and dates (2nd half of 1st century A.D. to 5th century). Project combined research in American and European libraries and museums with field work in Tunisia. Field work involved cleaning, drawing and photographing mosaics; study and recording of physical and compositional relationship between mosaics and architectural settings. Under first grant, nearly all mosaics in and from Utica recorded. Present project to complete mosaic recording, analysis of archeological and architectlural data, photographic file and moasic preservation. Resulting publication will provide data for full historical art historical interpretation for each moasic. Of importance to art historians because these mosaics reflect stylistic changes and cross-currents in transition period from antiquity to middle ages; thus, provide information on social, intellectual and religious history of Roman era. Funds for salaries, travel, equipment, shipping, postage, telephone