2018 EXCAVATION, CONSERVATION AND RESTORATION
With the decree of the Council of Ministers dated 03.10.2016 and numbered 2016/9336, it was deemed appropriate to carry out archaeological excavation and restoration works in the ancient city of Tripolis on behalf of the Republic of Turkey Ministry of Culture and Tourism, General Directorate of Cultural Assets and Museums and Pamukkale University under the presidency of Assoc. Prof. Dr. Bahadır DUMAN.
The 2018 archaeological excavation and restoration works were carried out between February 05, 2018 and April 02, 2018 under the supervision of Denizli Museum Directorate. The excavation and restoration works of 2018 were carried out and completed with the permission of the General Directorate of Cultural Heritage and Museums dated 16.03.2018 with the members of the committee specified in the work program attached to the letter.
The excavations and restoration works were carried out by archaeologists, epigraphists, archaeologists, epigraphists and archaeologists who are Prof. Dr., Assoc. Dr., Assoc. Academicians from different disciplines including archaeologists, epigraphists, biologists, geologists, art historians, restorers, textile designers and engineers participated in the studies. In addition, Expert Geologists, Expert Textile Designer and Engineer, 6 archaeologists including 2 experts, 3 restorers, 1 conservator, 2 archaeology students, 4 restoration and conservation students, 2 crane operators, 12 excavation and restoration workers participated in the delegation.
EXCAVATIONS
Agora
The Agora, which was built in the city center with a north-south rectangular plan in the Roman Period; continued to be used with new arrangements made in the late 4th century AD - early 5th century AD. The Colonnaded Street lies to the south of the Agora, Hierapolis Street to the east and Bouleuterion to the west. The building, with internal dimensions of 48.5 x 68 m, covers an area of approximately 3298 m².
The excavation of the Agora courtyard, which was partially started in 2015-2016, continued in 2017 with the removal of a large part of the backfill soil, and the remaining backfill soil is planned to be completed in 2018. During this planning, it was planned to leave a road connecting to the agora from the eastern end of the northern tribune to the agora unexcavated in order to allow vehicle access to the area for use in restoration works. During the excavation works, it was determined that the erosion soil covering the Agora courtyard has the same characteristics and similar content throughout the entire area. Agora yapısı hakkında ayrıntılı bilgi için buraya tıklayınız.
Mosaic House
Excavations were carried out on the north-south street to the south and east of the Mosaic House, which is located within the 1st degree protected area of the Ancient City of Tripolis and built on a 100 x 100 m plan square 7/S and a 10x30 m plan square 8/H-G-F in the southeast of the area. The excavations of the Mosaic House aimed to provide more detailed information about the civil architecture of the city. In this context, georadar scans were made to the south and east of the building, the data obtained were evaluated, the survey work was completed by adding the scan results to the relevant parts of the building in the computer environment and the excavation work started in the southern end of the room with the mosaic paved floor called Place 1.
Included in the 2018 excavation program and excavation works of a part of the building were completed within the extent of the program, and there is an eastern street opening 45 meters in the north-south direction at the eastern end. In the southern part of the Mosaic Dwelling, a different room with a mosaic floor, named as Room 7, was unearthed as a result of the excavations. In addition to this room, different adjacent rooms were encountered on the south side of this room. To the north of the room called Place 9 which was used as a furnace, there is an animal shelter whose function was changed in the late period. Places 11, 12 and 13 are different rooms of the Mosaic House used as living spaces.Mozaikli Konut hakkında ayrıntılı bilgi için buraya tıklayınız.
Monumental Fountain (Nymphaeum)
Monumental Fountain excavations started in 2016. In 2018, excavations continued and another section of the Monumental Fountain was unearthed. The aim of the excavations of the Monumental Fountain is to provide more detailed information about the building, to have an idea about the facade arrangements by evaluating the architectural blocks unearthed on the building and to determine the relationship of the building with other building groups around it.
The Monumental Fountain, which is located on the west side of Hierapolis Street, the main street of the city, and east of the Sanctuary, has a façade length of 30 m, a 'U' plan, a flat foundation, a podium and three floors. The façade ornamentation of the fountain consists of a plan with a combination of Corinthian, Composite and Ionic capitals. The monumental fountain, which has not yet been excavated, has a length of 32 m from outside to outside on the north-south west wall, 8.66 m on the north short wing and 7.50 m on the south short wing.
Before starting excavations inside the building, the area was expanded by 5 m in the east and 2 m in the north-south direction to determine the arrangement of the Hierapolis Street in front of the fountain. As a result, the total length from the northern section to the southern section was 36 m and the total length from the inner part of the long wing wall of the Monumental Fountain to the eastern section was 11 m. Afterwards, the blocks under the soil were exposed by proceeding towards the lower levels.
At the end of the 2018 excavations, 151 architectural blocks were found in and around the pool. These blocks include; marble column bases, marble attic-ion column bases, marble statue bases, marble frieze blocks, marble geison blocks, marble architrave blocks, marble architrave-frieze blocks, column body fragments made of white marble, column body fragments made of banded travertine, column body fragments made of red and pink patterned granite, column body fragments made of black patterned granite, marble plaster capitals with different ornamental features, marble plaster bases, marble Ionian, Corinthian and Pergamon type capitals, marble pediments, marble crown block fragments and marble acroteria. Anıtsal Çeşme hakkında ayrıntılı bilgi için tıklayınız.
Restoration and conservation studies
The restoration and conservation works were carried out in line with the conservation and repair verdicts taken within the international framework by restorers who are experts in their fields and who are listed in the excavation committee list. The works were carried out in three sections: on architectural artifacts in the excavation area, in the excavation house restoration laboratory, marble sculptures and portable cultural assets.
In 2018, restoration works were carried out in the Sanctuary and Monumental Fountain (Nymphaeum) within the excavation and restoration program. In addition, simple repair works were carried out in the Mosaic House, which required urgent intervention, and annual periodic maintenance works were carried out in the Arched Structure, Tabernas and Early Byzantine Church 4.
Sanctuary
The works in the sanctuary were carried out on the east, west and north porticoes, the ion column arrangements, the temenos, the north entrance of the sanctuary and the wall northwest of this entrance.
Sanctuary West Portico
The upper drums of the north-south oriented colonnades, of which the lower drums were found insitu, were completed. In addition, the upper drums and capitals, which were found collapsed towards the west during the excavations, were replaced.
Sanctuary North Portico
From west to east on the North Portico of the Sanctuary, column arrangements 1, 2, 4, 7, 13, 16, 17, 23, 24, 27 and 28 consist of a base and a lower drum. For this reason, similar restoration practices were applied to the mentioned column arrangements. Since the mortars between the column bases and the stylobate, which were used for fixing these arrangements, lost their binding properties over time, the dead mortars under the bases were cleaned and the attic-ion column bases were placed in their original places on the stylobate after rehearsals.
The remaining gaps under the pedestals were filled by compacting the mortar. The broken surfaces of the pedestals with fragments that could be integrated were mechanically cleaned and joined with epoxy stone adhesive. After the completion of the restoration works on the pedestals, the lower drums of the columns were placed on the pedestals.
From west to east, the pedestals of column arrangements 5, 9, 10, 11, 12, 14, 15, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 25 and 26 have survived to the present day. Among the existing pedestals, the broken surfaces of the pedestals with fragments that could be integrated were mechanically cleaned and joined with epoxy stone adhesive. After joining, they were placed in their original places on the stylobate. The gaps between the pedestals and the stylobate were filled with mortar.
Sanctuary East Portico
Restoration works were carried out on the arch foot made to connect the arches on the columns at the corner point of the north and east portico. The locations of the foot stones, which were found and classified during the excavations, were determined by looking at their collapse, direction, form and dimensions. After the rehearsal of the stones whose locations were determined, they were fixed with mortar prepared with lime mixture. In order to ensure the connection of the fixed stones to each other and increase their endurance, a 10x20 mm 'U' clamp was thrown between them every two rows. Finally, the arch overlapping stone on the pillar was rehearsed and fixed.
In addition, the flat columns at the southern end of the portico were placed on their pedestals and raised to the foot.
Monumental Fountain
The restoration works at the Monumental Fountain were carried out on the broken and missing architectural blocks of the building.
The restored pieces were first proofed and the dead layers on their surfaces were cleaned to ensure a stronger and better adhesion of the epoxy resin. In order to prevent the possibility of slipping during drying, the glued pieces were compressed using spandex rope and clams.
Arched Building
The plaster remains on the north and south walls of the Arched Building were periodically maintained annually. Lichen formations were observed on the plaster surfaces due to climatic factors.
The lichens on the surfaces were removed by mechanical methods. In the parts that could not be removed by mechanical methods, 3% proventol-alcohol mixture was used. The prepared chemical mixture was applied to the surface with soft-tipped brushes and the cleaning process continued. After the cleaning process, the surfaces were completely cleaned from the chemical by using pure water.
Mosaic House East Street
It was carried out on the north-south wall bordering the east side of the street on the east side of the Mosaic Building.
Smoothly cut travertine blocks, tea stones of various sizes and travertine stones were used in the original structure of the wall. Lime mortar was used as a binder. The stones from the collapsed part of the wall during the excavation were carried to the sorting area to be used in the masonry of the wall.
Based on the height of the northern part of the wall, the demolished parts were rebuilt with the original material. The mortar used was prepared in accordance with the original mortar of the building.
After the masonry process was completed, the excess mortar between the joints was removed and simple repair operations were completed.
Tabernae
The frescoes on the walls of the tabernas were periodically maintained annually. Salt and dirt formations were observed on the surfaces of the frescoes due to climatic and atmospheric factors. The salts on the surfaces were removed with a mixture prepared with sepiolite and paper pulp. The contaminations caused by atmospheric factors were cleaned by buffering with pure water and sponge. Superficial spills were observed in some parts of the frescoes. Conservation applications were completed by applying 3% Primal AC-33 to the spilled parts.
Early Byzantine Church 4
The frescoes on the north and south walls of the church have been periodically maintained annually. Slight contamination was observed on the fresco surfaces due to natural factors. The dirt on the surface was cleaned by buffering with pure water and sponge. The frescoes were covered with geotextile and thermal cover and taken under protection.