Characteristic Features and Construction Technique of Shipwreck Yenikapı 20

Yıl 2023, Sayı: 20, 311 - 328, 31.07.2023

Işıl Kocabaş Taner Güler

https://doi.org/10.26650/artsanat.2023.20.1213527

Öz

During the salvage excavations carried out in the Yenikapı district of Istanbul between 2004 and 2013 within the scope of the Marmaray and Metro projects, the Theodosius Harbor, the essential commercial transportation center of Constantinople, was unearthed. Yenikapı 20 (YK20) is one of 37 shipwrecks discovered in Theodosius Harbor. YK20 is dated to AD 687-975 years by radiocarbon analyses. The preserved dimensions of the shipwreck, whose hull part is intact, are 8.76 m in length and 2.25 m in width. After in situ documentation, the hull was removed from the site; post-excavation documentation and construction technique studies were carried out at Istanbul University Yenikapı Shipwrecks Application and Research Center. According to archaeological evidence and preliminary reconstruction studies, YK20 is a small merchantman with a length of approximately 10.76 m, with Latin sails, built using the Mediterranean mixed construction method. It has similar construction characteristics to the Yenikapı shipwrecks YK9, YK12, and YK18, which have chestnut planks and planking edge dowel joints. In this article, the Yenikapı excavations, which lasted for nine years, and the history of the harbor are presented to create integrity with the subject, the documentation of the shipwreck is summarized, its general construction features and analysis are evaluated in comparison with the other Yenikapı shipwrecks.

Anahtar Kelimeler

Boat and ship archaeology, Yenikapı shipwrecks, Theodosian Harbor, Byzantine shipbuilding

Destekleyen Kurum

İÜ Bilimsel Araştırma Projeleri Koordinasyon Birimi

Proje Numarası

26288

Teşekkür

We would like to thank Istanbul Archeology Museums and IU Yenikapı Shipwrecks Project coordinator Prof. Ufuk Kocabaş for permission and support to work on shipwrecks. Many thanks to Prof. Abdi Kükner, Prof. Ünal Akkemik, the IU Yenikapı Shipwrecks Project team and the relevant units of Istanbul University. This study (Project number: 26288) and IU Yenikapı Shipwreck Project (Project numbers: 2294, 3907, 7381, 12765) were supported by Istanbul University Scientific Research Projects Coordination Unit.

Yenikapı 20 Batığının İnşa Tekniği ve Karakteristik Özellikleri

Öz

Marmaray ve Metro projeleri kapsamında, 2004-2013 yılları arasında İstanbul’un Yenikapı semtinde gerçekleştirilen kurtarma kazıları sırasında, Konstantinopolis’in önemli ticari ulaşım merkezi Theodosius Limanı ortaya çıkarılmıştır. Yenikapı 20 (YK20), Theodosius Limanı’nda keşfedilen 37 batıktan biridir. YK20, radyokarbon analizlerine göre 687- 975 yılları arasına tarihlendirilmiştir. Karina kısmı sağlam olarak günümüze ulaşan batığın korunan boyutları 8,76 m uzunluk ve 2,25 m genişliktedir. Batık gövdesi, in situ belgelemesi yapıldıktan sonra araziden kaldırılmış; kazı sonrası belgeleme ve yapım tekniği çalışmaları İstanbul Üniversitesi Yenikapı Batıkları Uygulama ve Araştırma Merkezi’nde gerçekleştirilmiştir. Arkeolojik kanıtlar ve ön rekonstrüksiyon çalışmalarına göre YK20, Akdeniz karma yapım yöntemi ile inşa edilmiş, Latin yelkenli, yaklaşık 10,76 m uzunluğunda küçük bir ticaret gemisidir. Kestane kaplamalı ve kenar kavelalı olan Yenikapı batıklarından YK9, YK12 ve YK18 ile benzer konstrüksiyon özelliklerine sahiptir. Bu çalışmada,dokuz yıl süren Yenikapı kazıları ve limanın tarihçesi konu ile bütünlük oluşturmak amacıyla sunulmuş, batığın dokümantasyonu özetlenmiş, genel konstrüksiyon özellikleri ve analizi Yenikapı batıkları ile karşılaştırmalı olarak değerlendirilmiştir.

Anahtar Kelimeler

Gemi ve tekne arkeolojisi, Yenikapı batıkları, Theodosius Limanı, Bizans gemi inşası

Proje Numarası

26288

Kaynakça

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