Conservation Mortars for the Danube Limes in Serbia: Safeguarding the Values of Cultural Heritage

Abstract

Roman sites located within the former military border – Danube Limes, have been explored for over 150 years in Serbia. A large number of fortifications, settlements, and necropolises, belonging to the period from the 1st to the 6th century have been discovered. Serbian institutions have recently initiated the process of their inscription to the UNESCO WH List, joining the transnational property Frontiers of the Roman Empire. Unfortunately, some of them are endangered and exposed to the decay of time, being in isolated areas, flooded, or simply unmaintained. The MoDeCo2000 project, funded by the Science Fund of the Republic of Serbia, was created with an attempt to make a contribution to their future protection with an innovative methodological approach, comprising the scientific research of construction materials and technologies used and suggestions for the creation of repairing mortars according to the international conservation guidelines and standards. Mortars, bricks, and stones originating from 23 sites were sampled during the project fieldwork and later researched using contemporary laboratory techniques.