This film shows the lifiting of the Rudston charioteer mosaic, its conservation and its transport by barge to Hull museum. This film looks at the work of archaeologists to lift and move a Roman mosaic pavement from an excavated Roman villa at Rudston in East Yorkshire, to Hull Museum. [Black and White] Title: Kingston upon Hull Educational Television. Title: The Rudston Charioteer [Colour] The film opens as Ford Zephyr travels down a country road, past a archaeological site where a team...

This film shows the lifiting of the Rudston charioteer mosaic, its conservation and its transport by barge to Hull museum. This film looks at the work of archaeologists to lift and move a Roman mosaic pavement from an excavated Roman villa at Rudston in East Yorkshire, to Hull Museum. [Black and White] Title: Kingston upon Hull Educational Television. Title: The Rudston Charioteer [Colour] The film opens as Ford Zephyr travels down a country road, past a archaeological site where a team of archaeologists work on an excavation. Several temporary work huts can be seen in the background. One team works extensively on a mosaic pavement. They use pointed tools to remove debris from its surface. Water is poured on to the surface of the mosaic and paintbrushes help clean the surface and reveal the stunning detail of the artwork. After further preparation archaeologists work as a team to roll up the mosaic pavement onto a metal cylinder. The mosaic is slowly rolled up with the team working at the base of the rolling cylinder where it meets the ground to ensure the mosaic is prised away from the ground with minimal disturbance to the mosaic’s structure. White fabric or a specialised plastic is applied to the surface of the mosaic to ensure it remains in one piece during this delicate operation. A worker hammers a wooden block on the covered surface presumably to ensure the small mosaic tiles remain flat. Other team members work on the exposed base of the mosaic at it wraps around the cylinder, using what appears to be clay to secure delicate sections. Progress is slow in this precise operation. Other supporting material is added to the underside of the mosaic as it is rolled around the cylinder. The team member with the wooden block and hammer treats other sections of the strengthened mosaic. A large section of what might be corrugated card is unrolled and fed into the area between the mosaic on the cylinder and the mosaic still to be lifted. More of the mosaic is lifted onto the large cylinder, archaeologists work hard to gently tease the fragile pavement from the ground. More of the white support material is added to the mosaic’s exposed underside as it is wrapped around the cylinder. An archaeologist carries a box filled with loose stones or pieces of mosaic and places the box in a tray alongside other similar boxes. The delicate work of rolling the mosaic on to the cylinder continues. The hard work is a success as the mosaic is now wrapped around the cylinder. Preparations are made to lift the cylinder and mosaic out of the excavated site. A lifting jack is used to engage with bar that has been placed through the length of the cylinder. Then lengths of cardboard are wrapped around the covered mosaic. The wrapped cylinder is lifted by a lorry crane onto the straw covered flat bed of the vehicle. A change of scene follows as the mosaic prepares to be unwrapped at a workshop The archaeologists prepare a raised flat display ‘bed’ where the mosaic will be placed. The wrapping which protects part of the mosaic is removed and the mosaic is pulled off the cylinder onto the flat bed, any remaining protective material is removed. An archaeologist works on the mosaic cleaning and repairing where necessary, using a brush, a fine chisel and a vacuum cleaner. The film shows the area where the mosaic is placed in the museum workshop, which is in effect a large tent using clear plastic supported by a metal frame. The archaeologists work in this enclosed space, covering the mosaic in what appears to be a white foam, with a square grid made from metal placed on top for additional strength. Two workers seem to be adding glass fibre to the structure. [Black & White] The film ends in subdued light as the mosaic now fully supported is hoisted by crane and moved by a vessel that looks like a barge. They travel along a waterway and unload near to a warehouse, thought to be part of Hull Museum. Title: The Director of Hull Museums is grateful for the cooperation of Title: Mr A Dawson, Rudston House Farm East Riding County Council Dr I Stead, Site Director Smith & Nephew Ltd BP Chemicals Ltd