One pier with two stones: A case study on different stones used in the foundation of a Roman bridge on the Batman Stream, Turkey

Year 2022, Volume: 13 Issue: 4, 715 - 722, 03.01.2023

Felat Dursun , Fatma Meral Halifeoğlu

https://doi.org/10.24012/dumf.1194052

Abstract

Perpira is a registered ancient bridge, probably constructed during the Late Roman/Early Byzantine, to span the banks of the Batman Stream. The foundations and the piers are the surviving remains of this bridge. Considering the current state, it is known that the bridge has not been repaired since it was discovered. Therefore, the remaining parts of the structure, especially the cut stone blocks, are original and contain precious information about the construction techniques and material selection of the period in which it was constructed. During the site investigations, it has been found that the stones used in the downstream and upstream sections may be different. In order to examine this unique application, samples were collected from the piers' downstream and upstream sections. The samples were then used to evaluate their petrographic, geochemical and engineering properties. At the macro scale, the questioned samples' petrophysical characteristics seem similar. However, the variances in their physicomechanical, petrographic, and mineralogical features indicate that they have distinctly different characteristics. The laboratory results demonstrate that the stone used in the upstream section is dolomite and has a strength of 25.21 MPa and a porosity of 25.38 percent, while the one used in the upstream section has a strength of 59.93 MPa and a porosity of 5.80 percent. According to the experiment results, it can be stated that Romans constructed this structure using highly competent engineering knowledge and material optimization. The findings also highlight how even a single piece of artefacts may provide new insights for understanding ancient material application practices.

Keywords

Bridge, Perpira, Physical and mechanical properties, Roman, Stone

Supporting Institution

Dicle University, Scientific Research Project Coordination Office (DÜBAP)

Project Number

MÜHENDISLIK.18.007

Thanks

Acknowledgement The authors gratefully acknowledge the financial support provided by Dicle University, Scientific Research Project Coordination Office (DÜBAP) under grant number MÜHENDISLIK.18.007; and the conservation company for providing the opportunity to conduct this investigation at the site.

İki taşlı bir payanda: Batman Çayı üzerinde yer alan bir Roma köprüsünün temelinde kullanılan farklı taşlar üzerine bir çalışma

Abstract

Perpira, Batman Çayı kıyılarını geçmek için muhtemelen Geç Roma/Erken Bizans döneminde inşa edilmiş tescilli bir antik köprüdür. Günümüze köprünün sadece temel ve ayaklardan oluşan kalıntıları erişmiştir. Tarihsel kayıtlardan hareketle, köprünün keşfinden bu yana herhangi bir restorasyon veya koruma faaliyetine dahil edilmediği düşünülmektedir. Bu yönüyle, yapının günümüze erişen kısımları, özellikle kesme taş bloklar, özgün olup, inşa edildiği dönemin yapım teknikleri ve malzeme seçimi hakkında değerli bilgiler içermektedir. Alanda yürütülen saha çalışmaları esnasında, köprünün topuk (mansap) ve selyaran (memba) kesimlerinde kullanılan taşların farklı karakterlerde olabileceği tespit edilmiştir. Bu özgün uygulamayı incelemek için köprü ayaklarının topuk ve selyaran bölümlerinden örnekler alınmıştır. Köprü ayağından toplanan bu numuneler, petrografik, jeokimyasal ve mühendislik özelliklerini değerlendirmek amacıyla deneysel çalışmalarda kullanılmıştır. Makro ölçekte, örneklerin petrofiziksel açıdan benzer olduğu gözlenmekle beraber detay analizlerde numunelerin fizikomekanik, petrografik ve mineralojik özellikler açısından belirgin farklılıklar içerdiği tespit edilmiştir. Laboratuvar sonuçları, topuk bölümünde kullanılan taşın dolomit olduğunu, 25.21 MPa mukavemete ve yüzde 25.38 oranında gözenekliliğe sahip olduğunu; buna karşın selyaran bölümünde kullanılan taşın kireçtaşı olduğunu 59.93 MPa mukavemete ve yüzde 5.80 oranında gözenekliliğe sahip olduğunu göstermiştir. Deney sonuçlarına göre Romalıların bu yapıyı son derece yetkin mühendislik bilgisi ve kaynak malzeme optimizasyonunu dikkate alarak inşa ettiklerini göstermektedir. Çalışma kapsamında elde edilen bulgular ayrıca, kalıntı/harabe şeklinde dahi olsa tek bir yapı parçasının bile antik dönem malzeme uygulamalarını anlamak için nasıl değerli veriler taşıyabileceğini göstermiştir.

Keywords

Perpira, Fiziksel ve mekanik özellikler, Roma, Taş, Köprü

Project Number

MÜHENDISLIK.18.007

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