The decision to transport a 2,000-year-old Roman mosaic from Uzes to Nimes (France) – where it is to be renovated – sparked protests from local heritage conservation groups. There is a fear that the facility will not return to Uzes – a city in the south of France.
The Roman mosaic covers an area of 60 square meters and dates back to the 1st century BCE. It was located in the Roman city of Ucetia. The decision to move the mosaic was related to the decision to build a boarding school in this place.
The local group Prima Vera spoke out against the transfer of the mosaic and put up an online petition demanding renovation in Uzes. Against protests, however, archaeologists from the French National Institute for Archaeological Research (Inrap) began a gradual relocation of the mosaic. One of the representatives of Prima Vera assured that official confirmation from the authorities had been received that the mosaic would return to Uzes and find a new place for it.
According to scientists, the Roman mosaic is really impressive, not only because of its impressive size but also because of the combination of amazing geometric shapes and animal silhouettes (owl, eagle, duck). Moreover, these types of mosaics date back to the 1st-2nd century CE, when the object from Uzes was created about 200 years earlier.
