2019 EXCAVATION, CONSERVATION AND RESTORATION
With the circular number 2016/ 9336 of the Council of Ministers dated 03.10.2016 and numbered 2016/ 9336, archaeological excavation and restoration works are carried out in the Ancient City of Tripolis on behalf of the Republic of Turkey Ministry of Culture and Tourism, General Directorate of Cultural Heritage and Museums and Pamukkale University under the chairmanship of Assoc. Prof. Dr. Bahadır Duman.
The 2019 archaeological excavation and restoration works were carried out between January 2, 2019- March 4, 2019 and November 1, 2019- December 31, 2019 under the supervision of Denizli Museum Directorate. The excavation and restoration works of 2019 were carried out and completed between March 5, 2019 and October 31, 2019 with the permission of the General Directorate of Cultural Heritage and Museums, with the members of the committee specified in the work program attached to the letter.
Academicians from different disciplines including archaeologists, epigraphists, biologists, geologists, anthropologists, art historians, restorers and conservators participated in the studies. In addition, expert geologists, 9 archaeologists, 6 of whom are experts, 4 restorers, 1 conservator, 3 archaeology department students, 4 restoration and conservation students participated in the excavations. In 2019, 27 workers and 1 crane operator were involved in excavation and restoration Works
EXCAVATIONS
Mosaic House
The studies were carried out 100 x 100 m 7/S-T plan squares in the southeast of this area. The current plan of the building was reached with the studies carried out on the 40x60 m. plan squares 7-10 / E-F-G-H-I-J in 7/S and the 30x10 m. plan square 8-10 / A in 7/T. The excavations continued in the north-south direction on the street to the south and east of the Mosaic House.
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 carried out 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 spaces exposed during the excavations carried out with the grid system in the previous period to the south of the mosaic-covered Space 7 and its continuation to the south.
Included in the 2019 excavation program and partially excavated within the scope of the program, the eastern end of the building is the East Street, 45 meters of which was exposed in the north-south direction during the 2018 excavation period. During the 2019 excavations, 18.5 meters of this street was exposed and its total length was measured as 63.5 meters. During the 2018 excavation period, different adjacent spaces were encountered in the south adjacent to the mosaic-covered Space 7, which was uncovered in the southern part of the Mosaic Dwelling. These spaces were excavated with a grid system. To the north of the space called Space 9 which was used as an oven, there is an animal shelter whose function was changed in the late period. Spaces 11, 12, 13 are the different rooms of the Mosaic House used as living spaces. A courtyard with a pool and peristyle was also encountered. The 2019 excavations were carried out primarily in the 4x4 m squared spaces that were uncovered with the application of the grid system. Some of the main outlines of the spaces remained within the grid sections and therefore their boundaries could not be clarified. It was aimed to determine the boundaries of the spaces by removing the grid sections and to obtain more detailed information about the spaces. Afterwards, the trench was extended towards the south to determine the relationship of the Mosaic House with other city structures. Mozaikli Konut hakkında detaylı bilgi için buraya tıklayınız..
Monumental Fountain
The excavations of the Monumental Fountain started in 2016 and continued in 2019. In 2019, the excavations were carried out primarily in the pool section of the fountain structure, and then the surrounding soil layer was removed to determine its connection with other structures. With the excavations of the Monumental Fountain, it was aimed to obtain more detailed information about the structure, to obtain more detailed information about the façade arrangements by evaluating the architectural blocks exposed on the structure and to determine its relationship with the building groups around it. The Monumental Fountain, which is located in Tripolis, west of the Hierapolis Street, the main street of the city, and east of the Sanctuary, has a façade length of 32 m, a 'U' plan, a flat foundation, a podium and three floors. The façade ornamentation of the fountain forms a monumental structure with a combination of Ionic, Corinthian and Composite column capitals. In 2019, the excavations of the Monumental Fountain were completed and it was found that the north-south west wall of the monumental fountain is 32 m long from outside to outside, the north short wing is 9.67 m long, and the south short wing is 9.67 m long. On the rear facade wall of the fountain, 10 m inland from the north and south, there are two water channels, one on the main axis of the two, and a total of three water channels.
The excavations inside the Monumental Fountain were first carried out on the soil layer filling the pool section of the building. During the excavations, a large number of decorated marble architectural blocks (marble and travertine columns, baseboards, slabs) and iron nails were found. These materials were grouped accordingly and carried to the classification area belonging to the Monumental Fountain. In addition, the numbered architectural block fragments were moved to the classification area after they were unearthed. These are; fragments of column drums, column cap fragments, architrave fragments, geison fragments, plaster cap fragments and column base fragments. Fragments of sculptures unearthed during the previous excavation periods were also found in the area. At the end of the excavations, the floor of the Monumental Fountain was encountered and it was seen that it was paved with angular stones made of travertine of varying sizes.
The inner façade of the walls surrounding the pool of the Monumental Fountain was made completely visible by the excavations. In general, all 4 facades have the same features. In order to protect the water inside the pool and prevent leaks, the masonry was covered with a thick layer of plaster made of lime mortar. Certain parts of this plaster, which is largely preserved, have been eroded and destroyed over time. At the point where these walls connect with the pool floor, a slope was given by using lime mortar, preventing them from cutting each other at right angles. The aim was probably to seal the water at the connection points and to help the water drain by strengthening its fluidity. Anıtsal Çeşme yapısı hakkında detaylı bilgi için buraya tıklayınız.
North of the Monumental Fountain (Theater Bath Street)
After determining the boundaries of all four sides of the Monumental Fountain, the primary objective was to determine its connection with the surrounding buildings and to identify the architectural blocks belonging to the Monumental Fountain that were demolished and scattered around it. In line with this purpose, the excavations in 2019 continued with trenches of varying sizes to the north, east and south of the Monumental Fountain, respectively.
During the excavations carried out in the area whose boundaries were first determined to the north of the Monumental Fountain, a new street was encountered, the width of which was determined to be 6 m, but its length could not be determined exactly because it continued into the section, and this street was named Theater Bath Street. The east-west oriented Theater Bath Street intersects with the north-south oriented Hierapolis Street running east of it..
In order to expose the entire floor blocks of the street, the mortar layer on the ones covered with mortar was removed and the floor stones were exposed. The floor stones are made of travertine. Apart from these, an east-west oriented sewerage structure running under the floor blocks is probably connected to the Hierapolis Street and can be seen through the deep gaps between the stones. In the north of the street, a gate with 3 stairs belonging to another building was encountered. However, it was observed that the gate was blocked after its function ended.
East of the Monumental Fountain (Hierapolis Street)
The excavations to the east of the Monumental Fountain cover an area approximately 52.5 m long in the north-south direction and 9 m wide in the east-west direction. Due to the topographical structure of the city, the starting level of the excavation shows a decreasing change from north to south.
With this last section, the total length of the Hierapolis Street from the southern section to the northern section has reached approximately 150 meters. The section from the South Wall to the last section in the north was measured as 132 meters. The east side of the Hierapolis Street, which continues northward from the Podium Building, is bounded by the portico, while the west side is bounded by the Latrina and the Monumental Fountain. The width of the street varies between 6.5 m and 8.80 m due to these structures and especially the width of the Monumental Fountain platform due to late period arrangements.
The large-scale travertine blocks placed in the middle section of the Hierapolis Street floor have a sewer line running underneath and vary in different sizes such as 162 x 75 cm, 284 x 165 cm, 322 x 125 cm, 277 x 142 cm. The other floor blocks placed to the east and west of the blocks are small and irregular in size. In some parts of the central parts of the street where the sewer line runs, it is observed that the floor blocks were abraded by horse cart wheels. During the works on the Hierapolis Street, the columns belonging to the portico on the east of the street and the blocks belonging to the Monumental Fountain on the west of the street were exposed as they were overturned on the street ground.
During the excavations to the east of the Monumental Fountain, a building arrangement similar to the portico seen in the south was encountered in the northward continuation of the Hierapolis Street. The portico is terminated with a pillar in the south and a buttress in the north. The portico, which borders the east side of the Hierapolis Street, is located between 81 m north and 123 m from the north side of the south city wall. Its length in the north-south direction is 42 m while its width in the east-west direction is 2.40 m including the stylobate.
To the west of the portico there is a row of columns placed on the stylobate, and to the east there is a wall line with the western façade visible at certain intervals in the section. The floor of the portico is made of compacted soil. A total of 13 column bases were found on the stylobate and except for the second base in the north, the columns of the others were exposed as overturned on the street and portico. Hierapolis Caddesi hakkında detaylı bilgi için buraya tıklayınız.
Courtyard of the Sanctuary
The excavations in the Sanctuary first started in the 2016 excavation season and were completed by opening the East, West and North Portico sections during the year. In 2019, it is planned to excavate the fill soil layer covering the courtyard of the Sanctuary in order to obtain information about its content. The Sanctuary is located north of the Agora and Bouleuterion and west of the Monumental Fountain. Measuring 50 x 80 meters, the sanctuary should have 15 columns in the west and east porticoes and 31 columns in the north and south porticoes, considering its original state in antiquity. Today, 12 columns are visible in the west portico, 31 in the north portico and 10 in the east portico. Since the arrangement of the south portico was changed in later periods, nothing can be said clearly. There are differences between the arrangements and column types of different periods on the porticos, and the width of the porticos was measured as 6 m in the west and north and 5 m in the east.
The fill soil layer covering the courtyard of the Sanctuary measures approximately 35x64 m and covers an area of 2240 m2 . During the excavations carried out from east to west, a soil layer of approximately 25 m in the north-south direction and approximately 16 m in the east-west direction was excavated. The excavations carried out westward from the East Portico stylobate line of the sanctuary were terminated at the 18th meter. Due to the elevation difference within the area, the starting level varies between 191 m and 190.20 m. The floor of the courtyard is made of compacted soil and although some deterioration is observed in places, it ranges between 188.27 m and 188.16 m throughout the area.
There are 5 clean and waste water lines running in different directions within the courtyard of the sanctuary. Kutsal Alan hakkında detaylı bilgi için buraya tıklayınız.
RESTORATION
The restoration and conservation works were carried out in line with the conservation and repair decisions 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 at the excavation site, in the excavation house restoration and conservation laboratory, on the unification of marble sculptures and on the restoration and conservation of movable cultural assets.
In 2019, restoration and conservation works were carried out on the Monumental Fountain (Nymphaeum) and the Column of Honor within the excavation and restoration program. In addition, annual periodic maintenance works were carried out in the Arched Structure, Tabernas and Early Byzantine Church 4.
Monumental Fountain
The restoration works at the Monumental Fountain were carried out on the broken and missing architectural blocks of the building. The types of architectural blocks that were completed are; architrave-frieze, architrave, frieze, geison, column base, column cap, column, postamented base and ceiling cassette.
HONORARY COLUMN
The restoration and conservation works of the Hononary Column (Monument), which was built approximately in the cenrer of the agora, were carried out during the year. The locations of the marble and travertine blocks belonging to the podium of the building were determined according to the mortar beds on the steps and the dimensions of the blocks.
The blocks whose locations were determined were fixed with mortar. The mortar used in the fixing process was prepared with sand, hydraulic lime and cream lime in accordance with the original mortar of the building.
Restoration works were also carried out on the column on the building. The column base, column and column capital were rehearsed and the fixing stage was started. Chromium steel reinforcement with a diameter of 2.5 cm and a length of 25 cm was placed between the base, column and cap. The upper parts of the gaps around the reinforcements were filled with lead and the lower parts were filled with epoxy resin and fixed.