Özge MUTLU / Güliz Bilgin ALTINÖZ
(Middle East Technical University, Ankara, Turkey)
Abstract:
Towns with continuous inhabitation embrace the physical traces, both above and under the ground, inherited from different historical periods. These traces altogether constitute the contemporary urban form and identity. Therefore, archaeological researches and excavations in urban areas can be considered as important valorization tools. However, archaeological research and excavations must be supported by post-excavation process for the survival of the unearthed archaeological remains. This process covers not only the conservation of materials but also relevant studies for their presentation and integrated survival in the contemporary town.
Based on the above-mentioned framework, this poster aims at focusing on the case of Ankara, which is a multi-layered city located in central Anatolia. Ankara has been continuously inhabited since the Paleolithic ages through the Phrygian, Galatian, Roman, Byzantine, Seljukid, Ottoman and Turkish Republican periods. Ankara had been the capital of various former civilizations and now as the capital of the Turkish Republic it still shows the physical traces of this continuous inhabitation. The Roman era has an important position within the town’s history, since, during their reign Ankara became the capital of the Galatian Province of the Roman Empire . A significant amount of monumental buildings had been built representing the glory of this period. Hence, the Roman Baths, the Temple of August, the Roman Theatre and a part of the Roman Street (Cardo Maximus) are the major archaeological remains in the modern city of Ankara today. However, besides various conservation problems, there is also the issue of fragmentation and disintegration, because of which, these sites appear as isolated voids in today’s urban context.
The poster presents the urban form of Roman Ankara within its complexity and its current situation, while focusing on the problem of the survival of Roman remains in today’s city. As part of our ongoing study, preliminary ideas for the conservation of these areas and strategies for their re-integration with the contemporary city are discussed.
Keywords:
urban archaeological sites, re-integration, post-excavation conservation, presentation, Ankara