Xàbia Museum restores a set of late antiquity (seventh century) ceramics from the archaeological site of Atzubia

During the past month of August the Soler Blasco Musuem of Xàbia has been restoring a set of ceramics found during the excavation of a plot of land in the archaeological site of Atzubia. This excavation, directed by archaeologist Pascual Costa, was promoted by the owners of the site. The five restored pieces were found in the bottom of a circular silo carved into the white marl soil. This structure had been used as a rubbish dump towards the end of the occupation of the settlement, which has been interpreted as being a small farm. 

This excavation and its ceramics correspond to the last documented occupation of Xàbia in late antiquity ( 7th century) a few years before the Moslem invasion of the Iberian peninsular.

The ceramics were restored by Maite Gay, a specialist in the restoration of archaeological materials. The restorer pointed out that the archaeological material had been altered by soluble and insoluble salts, surface dirt, calcareous concretions, as well as deformation caused by the weight of the earth and roots. 


The restoration consisted of taking apart the initial reconstruction which had been made before the pieces arrived at the restoration workshop. Then mechanical and chemical cleaning, with the elimination of soluble and insoluble salts with distilled water baths and acids. Finally consolidation, sticking fragments together, reconstructing the shape and colour matching the filler which replaces the missing pieces.


The five ceramics  will be on display from September 8th in the entrance hall of the Museum.


(From Press Release - English version by CB-J AMUX)

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