Masters Thesis -
Gordion Mosaic

My Masters Thesis documented the history and current condition of the oldest mosaic found to date and proposed a conservation strategy to address how best to stabilize the remaining fragments and improve its presentation for the future. Found within a temple at the fabled city of Gordion in central Turkey where King Midas with the golden touch was thought to have ruled, the unique and erratically patterned mosaic dates back to the 9th century B.C.E. A sampling of the mosaic was lifted from its original location in 1963 and backed on concrete panels. These panels are currently located in a subterranean display close to the site, but are in extremely poor condition and there is virtually no information available about this unique artifact.  

The documentation process consisted of a number of steps. First, images of the mosaic were taken from above using rectified photography. The photographic montage is a composite of over a hundred images. A list of prevalent conditions was established, and the conditions of each panel were recorded manually. Lastly, all of the conditions surveys were digitized using AutoCAD.  

A digital version of my thesis can be found here: Documentation and Evaluation of the Conditions of the Ninth Century B.C.E. Mosaic from Gordion, Turkey, and Recommendations for its Conservation and Treatment