Mosaic floor (Fragment)

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Mosaic flooring was made from small pieces of tiles or stones, arranged in patterns. This fragment of a coarse mosaic floor made from small squarish stones was found at the site of the Roman fort of Birrens in Dumfriesshire.

The small stones were set in cement to form a functional, rather than decorative, flooring. Such floors are rare in Roman Scotland.

The Roman army introduced into Scotland a range of new building materials such as plaster, mortar and cement. Tiles and bricks were used for roofing and internal fittings. In a few cases there is even evidence of mosaic flooring.

Record details

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• Online ID: 000-100-036-711-C
• Image Rights Holder: National Museums Scotland
• Project: National Museums Scotland
  Project description   View all records in project
• Ref: National Museums Scotland  X.FR 199
• Date: Between 120 and 180 AD
  
• Material: Brick; tessellated
  Pavement / portion
  
• Dimensions: 80 mm x 90 mm x 40 mm
  
• What: Pavement / portion
  
• Subject:
• Who:
• Where: Scotland, Dumfriesshire, Middlebie, Birrens
  
• Event:
• Description: Portion of a brick tessellated pavement, from the floor of a bath at Birrens
  
• References:
• Translations:
• Related Records: