Properties of Roman Lime Mortars in Ancient Lycia Region

Abstract

In this study, the characteristics of mortars used in some ancient Roman buildings located Xanthos (Antalya), Patara (Antalya) and Tlos (Mugla) in Southern Turkey were determined in order to define the properties of the new mortars to be used in the conservation works of the buildings. For this purpose, their basic physical properties, raw material compositions, mineralogical and microstructural properties were determined by X-Ray Diffraction, Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy, Scanning Electron Microscopy coupled with X-Ray Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy. Analysis results indicated that the binder of the mortars composed of lime and fine aggregates have compact and uniform structure. The mortars are of low density and high porosity were produced from high calcium lime containing magnesium and natural aggregates. The lime and aggregate ratios were between 3/4 - 5/2 by weight and the aggregates with particle sizes greater than 1mm. composed the largest fraction of the aggregates. Lime composed of small size of micritic crystals due to use of aged lime puny. Aggregates were natural and mainly composed of quartz, albite, diopside and amorphous silica that may derived from the use of volcanic ash as pozzolans.