Ali Akın Akyol

FTIR imaging and HPLC reveal ancient painting and dyeing techniques of molluskan purple

Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and imaging coupled to optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy coupled to energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) coupled to diode-array detection are used to investigate two samples removed from a painted decoration of a burial kline and a textile fragment, both found in Koru tumulus (fifth century BCE) in Daskyleion. Tyrian purple and kaolinite were identified in both samples, thus suggesting that the aluminosilicate compound had an important role in the applied painting and dyeing processes. The textile fragment is composed of undyed cotton and silk yarns dyed with the molluskan dye. The relative compositions of the molluskan materials used in the two archaeological objects are similar and comparable with the corresponding composition measured for a purple sample originated from Murex trunculus mollusks according to the HPLC results. This result is supported by principal component analysis (PCA) which, furthermore, takes into account the relative compositions of the extracts of the three Mediterranean mollusks, published in previous reports.

Picturing monuments and cultural heritages with ground penetrating radar method including its half bird's eye view visualization

The aim of this study is to show applications of the ground penetrating radar (GPR) method to the monuments and the cultural heritages in order to maintain and evaluate the progress of treatments. In this framework, we involved transparent 3D half birds eye view visualization of the GPR data. Our study area was on the Midas Monument remained a Phrygia civilization, lived between the 9th and 7th centuries BC in the Eskişehir region of Central Anatolia-Turkey. The monument has covered with miscellaneous geometric designs and hyerogliphics. During the Phrygian period religious ceremonies used to be held here. The Midas Monument has taken the shape of a giant rock-cut facade measuring over 16.5 meters in width and some 17 meters in height. The rock of the facade is nature rock heightened from surface. There are a lot of rock cut chambers seems as a multi-storey apartment in the North of the monument. We used the GPR method to evaluate the existence of internal discontinuities such as micro fractures and cavities of Midas Monument in order to control stability condition. 800 MHz shielded antenna was used to acquire GPR data on parallel profiles on the monument and 250 MHz shielded antenna was used on parallel profiles spaced 1m apart to research stability conditions around the monument and rock cut grave chambers. We obtained 2D/3D image of the GPR with half birds eye view visualization of depth slices and their transparent 3D sub-volumes and pictured fractures on the Midas Monument and buried cavities representing rock cut tombs between monuments and the rock cut necropolis.

Investigations of Osteobiography of the Koru Tumulus Skeletons by Elemental Analysis

M.O.546-334 yillari arasinda onemli bir Satraplik merkezi olan Daskyleion’da (Bandirma, Balikesir), 2010 yilinda gerceklestirilen Koru Tumulus’u kazisindan, ucu mezar odasinin icerisinden, digeri mezar odasinin on kisminda (dromos) yer alan irice yassi bir tasin altindan dort bireye ait kemik kalintilari ele gecmistir. Ele gecen kemiklerin element bilesimi, bireylerin icinde bulundugu olum oncesi ve olum sonrasi surecleri degerlendirmek icin kullanilmistir. Bu amac dogrultusunda Polarize Enerji Ayrimli X-isini Floresans (PED-XRF) yontemiyle kemigin kimyasal butunlugunu, bireylerin diyetini ve gomu sonrasi kemikteki element birikimlerini temsil eden Ca, P, Sr, Ba, Mg, Cu, As, Fe, Y, Th, Cd, Zn, Mn, Pb ve uranyum uyluk kemiginin inorganik kismindan analiz edilmistir. Mezar odasinda ele gecen bireyler (BDK-K1, BDK-K2 ve BDK-K3) ile mezar odasinin disinda ele gecen birey (BDK-K4) arasinda beslenme ve diagenetik birikim acisindan farkliliklar gozlenmistir. Tahil ve yuksek proteinli hayvansal gidalarla beslenmenin gostergesi olan Ba/Ca ve Zn/Ca oranlari mezar odasinda ele gecen grup icin belirleyici olmustur. Bitki ve deniz kokenli besinlerin kullanimina isaret eden Sr/Ca orani da ayni grup icin ayirt edicidir. Buna karsin, mezar odasinin disinda ele gecen birey icin, ic organ gibi dusuk proteinli hayvansal gida tuketiminin gostergesi olan Cu/Ca orani karakteristiktir. Gomu sonrasi surecler acisindan yapilan degerlendirmede oncelikle mezar odasinda ele gecen uc bireyin bakir, mezar odasi disinda ele gecen bireyin ise demir tarafindan gruplanan gomu sonrasi kimyasal degisimlere maruz kaldigi belirlenmistir. Beslenme deki farkliliga ek olarak, gomu sonrasi kemiklerde meydana gelen kimyasal degisimler farkli gomu kosullarina isaret etmistir. Diagenetik degisimler, dromostaki bireyin tafonomik sureclerle yerinin degismedigine, yani gomuldugu ilk andan itibaren bulundugu konumu korudugunu ortaya cikarmasi, BDK-K4 numarali bireyin mezar odasindaki grubun uyesi olmadigi fikrini desteklemistir. Kemiklerin kimyasal analizlerinin ortaya cikardigi farkliliklar, iskeletlerin gomu konumlari ve mezar odasinda ele gecen degerli mezar hediyeleri beraber degerlendirildiginde BDK-K4 numarali bireyin, basariya ulasamadan hayatini kaybetmis bir mezar soyguncusu olabilecegi ihtimali akla gelmektedir.

Ground penetrating radar and micro raman spectroscopy in Keciova Mosque Casbah-Algiers (Algeria)

Use of monitoring tools becomes more and more relevant at the increase of the ageing of heritage and historical infrastructures in order to properly drive the management and conservation procedures. In this framework; GPR method, and micro confocal Raman spectroscopy (CRS) methods were used in Keciova (Ketchaoua) Mosque (Casbah, Algeria) in order to visualize historical remains, foundations and basement infrastructures such as fractures, cavities or any other risk factors and identify minerals and rock types before restoration studies. The Mosque is an UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Imaging The Hittite cemetery site with 3D half bird's eye view of GPR data set in Sapinuva ancient city of the Hittite Empire (Corum-Turkey)

The aim of this study was to image a probable cemetery site of Hittite Empire, in ancient city of Sapinuva -Agilonu in Ortakoy (Çorum-Turkey), the most important holy religion area and the ancient capital city of Hittite Empire of üpougd>zx Anatolia, which is one of the most important historical sites of Turkey. A Ramac CU II GPR system and a 250 MHz shielded antennas have been employed over a 93×14 m area along parallel profiles spaced 0.50 m apart to measure data. The processed parallel profile data set was presented through a solid 3D view. Obtained traditional slices with the same axes on the map of the study site could not efficiently represent the subsurface. Therefore, arranging the view angles of the axes supplied half birds eye view of the 3D subset of the GPR data. Then the transparent 3D subsets of the data were obtained using true arranged opaque functions to the amplitude-colour range. Interactive half birds eye views of transparent 3D subsets provided satisfactory results to monitor very complex buried walls and relations amongst each other representing the probable cemeteries of the Hittite Empire family.