As a result of excavations carried out in the so-called Gonio fortress (ancient Apsaros), which is located at the mouth of the river Chorokhi to the Black Sea, 15 km south of Batumi (Georgia), scientists have discovered the remains of a Roman mosaic.
As it turns out, the mosaic was in the villa of the Roman commander of the local garrison, deep inside the property. Until now, several fragments of the mosaic have been discovered, where each consists of more than a dozen stone cubes in different colors: green, black, red or yellow. Different colors prove that the mosaic probably showed different motives; however, it is currently impossible to recognize the shapes due to damage.
Under the floor on which the mosaic was laid was the hypocaustum system – a Roman floor heating system.
Importantly, the mosaic in the house of a Roman commander on the outskirts of the Empire is really rare. Usually, the Romans gave up their luxuries in places threatened by invaders.
Excavation works in the said area are carried out by a Polish-Georgian team of archaeologists.
