Porto Torres: ancient thermal mosaic dressing room discovered in the Domus of marine mosaics

During the first four months of excavations in the complex known as the Domus of Marine Mosaics in Porto Torres, investigations carried out on the connecting area between two areas of the Domus that had already emerged in the previous excavation campaign and on the drainage pipes of the thermal sector of the facility, a new room with an irregular floor plan covered with a large floor mosaic with a geometric pattern and polychrome tesserae was found. The original use of this space, characterized by a series of seats on all sides, seems to correspond to a dressing room (apodyterium) functional to thethermal facility.

From this room it was assumed to find a way into the heated room located on the upper floor and already brought to light in the previous 2004 campaign, but no connection was found between this level and the floor of the dressing room, such as masonry stairs, except for a small opening, closed in ancient times, about five feet above the floor. A question to be solved during the continuation of the work.

Several types of interesting finds have been unearthed: in addition to materials referable to masonry and roof collapses, there are numerous remnants of decorated plaster, including very bright colors and architectural, plant and anthropomorphic motifs. The numerous archaeozoological remains, particularly those of birds and fish, will also be studied in order to understand the nature of their consumption, which may have been food, but also related to certain rituals.

Among the goals of the excavation campaign is to construct, or restore where existing, a rainwater disposal system. In the direction of the rio Mannu ancient pipes were found, which at the moment seem pertinent to a late phase.

Interesting was the discovery of another room that ends in a semicircular wall and has features that confirm the hypothesis that the building experienced at least two periods of use, one datable to the third century AD and a final one of the fourth to fifth centuries AD.
The pottery and coins found so far also turn out to be almost all referable to a period between the second half of the 4th and early 5th centuries AD.

Porto Torres: ancient thermal mosaic dressing room discovered in the Domus of marine mosaics

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