67 Anica Gorgievska Institute and Museum – Bitola ... - ICOM-SEE

Lets go back to our problem – since the very beginning we were very much aware of the complex
task that is ahead of us.
This is how the road map for prevention of these previous floor mosaics took place:
With modest amount of funds allocated by the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Macedonia in
1998 and 1999 there was sanctioning of the floor mosaics in the Nartex (picture 4) – which is the
masterpiece of the early Christian arts, the baptisterium and the catechumenium of the Great
Basilica (total surface or around 150 m2).
In the year of 2000 there were funds received by PHARE Program for development of culture in
Macedonia which finalized the works needed for the whole complex of the Great Basilica (No.
9,10,11, 5,6,7 on the Plan) in the total surface of 448 m2: the northern section – 150m, the
northern annex (chapel with atrium – 48m), Naos 184m, south annex – 31m, south section – 35 m.
and re-conservation was performed on the mortar underlay in the Naos (Eastern half – 370 m) .
In the year of 2001 the works were focused on the mosaic surface of the Episcopal Residency with
total surface of around 250m2.
Since the largest conservation interventions were carried out during the PHARE Project for
development of culture in Macedonia in the section below we will reflect more about the realization
of this Project i.e. will provide an overview on how the works on the mosaic surfaces in the Great
Basilica progressed 7 .
Initial organizational procedures
The organizational procedures were implemented in three phases;
1. Raising of the old sand
The thing to do first was to remove the old and obsolete sand over these mosaics. We do not need
to mention the fact that this sand dates from 20, 30, 40 years ago and our greatest enemy – time –
did what it could do. There were plans everywhere (picture 5). There were weeds and roots and
even bigger roots on occasions that were necessary to be treated biologically in order to avoid
accidental ripping of the mosaic stones together with the weeds i.e. roots. On the other side, the
roots release acids that damage the mortar.
1. Sanitation of the mosaics
After the mosaic surface was uncovered the next thing to be done was to observe the damages.
Unfortunately, our ascertainment was that the damages are far greater than expected.
We faced double damage: ordinary damage (coming off of the mosaics from their own surface)
and damages of the mosaics from the conservated surface (picture 6).
The most sensitive parts were first subject to conservation interventions – the mosaic in the
Northern Annex (the Chapel with Atrium of the Great Basilica). This is mosaic made with
significantly small stones that are very gentle.
7
Anica Gjorgjievska – advisor for conservation, Head of the Project, Momchilo Petrovski – University professors -
consultant, Engin Nasuh – professional collaborator, Efto Dimovski – expert for mosaics conservation, Gjorgi Dimovski –
assistant for conservation, Nikola Dimovski – technical documentation
70 [
CONDITION OF THE CULTURAL
AND NATURAL HERITAGE IN THE BALKAN REGION