No abstract

The objective of this article is to show the results obtained from the physical and macroscopic characterization of the mortars sampled by Isabel Marqués and Alejandro Bermúdez, archaeological directors of the intervention carried out in El Tejar settlement, in the municipality of Villamanta (Madrid, Spain). The results of this work have determined a relevant typological classification among the samples, highlighting the presence of siliceous aggregates, ceramics in some mortars, a very varied grading and a distribution of the components that have conditioned the conservation. Of the four samples taken -VMT1 to VMT4-one of them has an aqueous pigmentation, belonging to an inside plaster, while the others correspond to lime mortars with aggregates from hydraulic surfaces. The archaeological investigation of the deposit of Villamanta is complemented by an implementation check of lime mortars, being one of the most important Roman context of Madrid. This research add a sequence of new results around the Roman mortars and implements a methodology in the study of the historical mortars.

The Roman villa of Noheda, located in the municipality of Villar de Domingo García (Cuenca), is one of the most important archaeological sites in Spain and one of the most important museum complexes in Europe. In recent years, several archaeological investigations have been developed (archaeometry of building materials, natural resources, ways and roads). Furthermore, various restoration and consolidation works have been carried out on structures, walls and floors. The archaeological management team requested a characterisation of the mortars found in the coatings of the walls and floors of the complex to identify differences in its production. After checking the rooms, the state of conservation of the elements and the significance of the materials used, several mortar samples were analysed by means of macroscopic techniques before applying a petrographic analysis. The results showed an interesting variety in the distribution of aggregates, a complex microstratigraphy and a range of grain sizes in the mortars from different rooms. Magnesium, silica and aluminium from limestone were found. Crushed and powdered limestone was used as an aggregate with irregular distribution. Calcite nodules were observed as evidence that the mortar had been poorly mixed in preparation.