A Part of Prusias Ad Hypium Waterways: Kemerkasim Village Aqueduct Architecture, Problems, Restitution, and Solution Suggestions

Year 2023, Volume: 11 Issue: 1, 91 - 103, 29.03.2023

Ercan Aksoy

Abstract

Given its crucial role as a source of life, water has been a significant factor in determining the location of human settlements. However, when settling near a water source was not feasible for various reasons, water had to be transported, stored, and made accessible for use. For this purpose, water structures were designed and aqueducts were built to transport water through deep valleys. In this study, the Kemerkasim Aqueduct, which is a part of the Prusias ad Hypium waterways, was evaluated. The study aims to document the aqueduct, which is about to collapse and make decisions for its conservation. The features of the structure were identified by documenting the structure and through research in the literature, which revealed that it was constructed in the 1st century, and underwent repairs in the 2nd and 3rd centuries. The deterioration throughout the building was examined and identified, and a restitution proposal was made by evaluating different aqueduct structures together with the traces from the building. Decisions were taken for conservation and suggestions were made for the survival of the rare example remaining on the route of Nikomedeia waterways. For this reason, it is believed that the study can be utilized in the investigation and evaluation of aqueducts in different regions.

Keywords

Aqueduct, Conservation, Prusias Ad Hypium, Restoration

References

• [1] Uçar, M., “Gaziantep tarihi su sistemi ve su yapıları” METU JFA, 33(2), 73-100, (2016).
• [2] Yamaç, İ., Antiocheia ad Orontes Suyolları, Yüksek Lisans tezi, Mustafa Kemal Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Enstitüsü, Hatay, (2010).
• [3] Öziş, Ü., Su mühendisliği tarihi açısından Türkiye’deki eski su yapıları. Ankara: DSİ Genel Müdürlüğü Yayınları, (1994).
• [4] Garbrecht, G., Der Sadd-el Kafara, die älteste Talsperre der Welt, In G. Garbrecht (Eds.), Historische Talsperren. Stuttgart: Wittwer, (1987).
• [5] Hodge, A. T., Roman Aqueducts & Water Supply. London: Duckworth Publishing, (2008).
• [6] Öziş, Ü., Outlook on Ancient Cisterns in Anatolia, Turkey. Proceedings of the International Conference on Rain Water Cistern Systems, Honolulu, 9-15, (1982).
• [7] İnal, İ., MÖ 1250’den günümüze Hitit Barajı. Ankara: DSİ Genel Müdürlüğü Yayınları, (2009).
• [8] Schachner, A., Boğazköy-Hattuşa 2007 yılı çalışmaları, In H. Dönmez & A. Özme (Eds.), 30. Kazı Sonuçları Toplantısı. Ankara: Kültür ve Turizm Bakanlığı Yayınları, (2009).
• [9] Mays, L. W., A brief history of water technology during antiquity: Before the Romans, In L.W. Mays (Eds.), Ancient Water Technologies. Dordrecht: Springer, (2010).
• [10] Mays, L. W., A brief history of Roman water technology, In L.W. Mays (Eds.), Ancient Water Technologies. Dordrecht: Springer, (2010).
• [11] Çelik, K. B., Türkiye’de su iletiminde kullanılan boru sistemlerin tarihsel gelişimi. DSİ Teknik Bülteni, (103), 23-30, (2008).
• [12] Önge, Y., Türk mimarisinde Selçuklu ve Osmanlı dönemlerinde su yapıları. Ankara: Türk Tarih Kurumu Yayınları, (1997).
• [13] Aksoy, T., Nikomedeia (İzmit) Suyolları, Doktora tezi, Ankara Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Enstitüsü, Ankara, (2015).
• [14] Landels, J. G., Eski Yunan ve Roma’da mühendislik. Ankara: Tübitak Yayınları, (1996).
• [15] Russo, R., Aqueduct architecture: Moving water to the masses in Ancient Rome. Yale-New Haven Teachers Institute, (4), 1-16, (2006).
• [16] Antoniou, G. P., “The Otooman aqueduct system of Kos, Greece”, Proceedings of IWA 2nd Regional Symposium on Water, Wastewater and Environment, İzmir, 76-87, (2017).
• [17] Martínez Jiménez, J., “A preliminary study of the aqueduct of Reccopolis”, Oxford Journal of Archaeology, 34(3), 301-320, (2015).
• [18] Moustafa, R. H. E. S., “A revival of the aqueduct of old Cairo ‘Magra Al Ayoun’”, International Journal of Multidisciplinary Studies in Architecture and Cultural Heritage, 4(1), 102-113, (2018).
• [19] Shimron, A. E., Gutkin, V., & Uvarov, V., “A aluice gate in Hezekiah’s (Iron Age II) Aqueduct in Jerusalem: Archaeology, architecture and the petrochemical setting of its micro and macro structures”, Archaeological Discovery, 10, 69-113, (2022).
• [20] Kessener, P., “The aqueduct at Aspendos and its inverted siphon”, Journal of Roman Archaeology, 13, 104-132, (2000).
• [21] Özbay, E., “Antakya’nın tarihi su dolapları “Naura” lara ışık tutan ‘Alvân Su Kemeri kalıntısının mimarî-tarihî analizi ve restitüsyonu”, Sanat Tarihi Dergisi, 21(2), 73-98, (2012).
• [22] Oke, A., Kozlu, H., & Çoruh, L., “Use of augmented reality in the preservation of architectural heritage: Case of the Aqueduct Kuru Kopru (Kayseri, Turkey)”, Iconarp International Journal of Architecture and Planning, 9(1), 110-130, (2021).
• [23] Zeyrek, T. H. & Çelik, G. B., Prusias ad Hypium (Kieros): Anadolu'nun kuzeybatısında antik bir kent (Konuralp/Üskübü). İstanbul: Ege Yayınları. (2005).
• [24] Bilir, A., “Prusias ad Hypium (Konuralp) Su Kemerleri”, 3. Uluslararası Bursa Su Kongresi, Bursa, 278-284, (2013).
• [25] URL-1. Location of Kemerkasim Aqueduct. https://www.google.com.tr/maps/place/Kemerkas%C4%B1m,+D%C3%BCzce+Merkez%2FD%C3%BCzce/@40.9214944,31.1995343,949m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m6!3m5!1s0x409da724f2e28e03:0x583639d7ce4178de!8m2!3d40.924439!4d31.198456!16s%2Fg%2F120zpfqc Last Accessed: 03.02.2023
• [26] Dörner, F. K. (1952). Bericht über eine Reise in Bithynien. Vienna: Rohrer.
• [27] URL-2. Examples of Aqueducts. https://tr.pinterest.com/ Last Accessed: 03.02.2023
• [28] URL-3. Carta Del Restauro. http://www.icomos.org.tr/Dosyalar/ICOMOSTR_en0660984001536681682.pdf Last Accessed: 03.02.2023
• [29] URL-4. The Venice Charter 1964. http://www.icomos.org.tr/Dosyalar/ICOMOSTR_en0243704001536681730.pdf Last Accessed: 03.02.2023
• [30] URL-5. Charter on the Built Vernacular Heritage. http://www.icomos.org.tr/Dosyalar/ICOMOSTR_en0464200001536913566.pdf Last Accessed: 03.02.2023