Restoration work on mosaic flooring from the site of Great Basilica in Plovdiv, Bulgaria, continues with dozens of square metres already restored.
Excavations of the the Great Basilica, the largest early Christian church yet found on the Balkans, so far revealed colourful mosaics and murals, children graves and also a 11th century skeleton. The top layer of the mosaic was moved to a studio near the Plovdiv’s Old Town in September 2016, and conservators began the laborious task of restoring the priceless artwork. The mosaics are richly decorated with various birds and plants. After restoration the colours of each pebble stand out clearly, and the forms they represent are said to finally resemble a true work of art.
Once the restoration is complete, the mosaic should cover a total of more than 2000 square metres. The excavations and restoration work is scheduled to end by 2019, ending in an exhibit being part of Plovdiv becoming European Capital of Culture.
(after The Sofia Globe)