Mortar recipes from the Roman Imperial Bath-Gymnasium and Urban Mansion of Sagalassos – a technological perspective

Abstract

This work presents the results of the examination of mortars from the archaeological site of Sagalassos in Anatolia (Ağlasun, Burdur Province, Southwest Turkey). The 36 specimens were selected from structures within the Roman Imperial Bath-Gymnasium and Urban Mansion, respectively dating to the 1st-6/7th century CE and the 1st century BCE-7th century CE. These samples underwent macroscopic, microscopic, physical, granulometric and spectroscopic examinations to identify the raw materials and how these were processed. Most importantly, at least five different mortar recipe types were revealed. This diversity emphasises that mortar production was flexible and empirical, probably following a general but not strict procedure. Overall, this research contributes to a better understanding of construction technology at Sagalassos during the Roman Imperial Period and Late Antiquity, a time when mortar materials were systematically used on a large scale.