Mosaic floor (Fragment)

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.

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