Scientific stage report on the samples taken from the Ghajn Tuffieha Roman baths site, Malta

Abstract

Aim: To put the case study of a bachelor dissertation on the conservation of mosaics on a more scientific level. It is thus hoped to help come up with better conservation solutions to the dissertation case study on the conservation of the Maltese Roman site of Ghajn Tuffieha. Also this scholarship was considered as a test - to experience doing research in France in view of a possible future research at masters' level.

In order to ascertain the appropriate stabilisation procedures for the surviving mosaics and renders at Ghajn Tuffieha and in order to ensure that any new repair mortars and renders are compatible to the original materials on site, the nature of the materials used at the site is considered crucial. Hence, the chemical components and structure of these materials were questioned.