Ancient construction sites in Hierapolis: new data on strategies, materials and techniques, in T. Ismaelli, G. Scardozzi (a cura di), Ancient quarries and building sites in Asia Minor, Bari 2016, 437-458. (original) (raw)
Related papers
thanks to systematic sampling and pre-existing knowledge of the composition of the three orders of the theatre, the paper presents a detailed study of the criteria adopted for the procurement of marbles used in the construction of the scaenae frons. the building site of this monument has been the object of many studies, given its exceptional state of conservation, the dedicatory inscription mentioning the Dokimeian marble and the assumed involvement of aphrodisian craftsmen in the decoration process. the present research offers new data regarding (i) the first phase of the scaenae frons (augustan and Julio-Claudian era), (ii) the chronological development of the severan building site (early to late severan period), (iii) the provenance of the marbles used the logeion and the three orders (mainly from Marmar tepe and thiounta quarries), and (iv) the distribution of white and coloured marbles (both local and imported) aimed at emphasising the central section of the scaenae frons.
The paper focuses on the imperial age mortars used in the public monuments of hierapolis, which were sampled for a petrographic and mineralogical study. mortars with different functions (bedding mortar for ashlars, grouting, filling, wall cladding mortars, plaster and stucco work) were sampled in order to identify the raw materials used to create the binder and the composition of the aggregate.
This volume presents the results of the Marmora Phrygiae Project, financed by the Italian Ministry of Education, University and Research (MIUR – Ministero dell’Istruzione, dell’Università e della Ricerca) as part of the “Futuro in Ricerca” programme (FIRB 2012). In the period 2013-2016, following a multidisciplinary approach, the project sought to reconstruct the building stone procurement strategies adopted in the city of Hierapolis in Phrygia (Turkey), across a broad chronological time span from the Hellenistic epoch to the Byzantine period. Extensive knowledge of the territory surrounding the city and detailed research into its monuments provided the basis for a painstaking historical reconstruction. The volume describes the economic, social, technological and legal aspects of the use of marble and presents the results of the archaeometric investigations that were conducted in order to characterise the building stones, determine their provenance and assess the state of conservation of the monuments. In addition, the volume illustrates recent research conducted by teams of various nationalities into the marble quarrying districts and monumental complexes of the main settlements of south-western Asia Minor in the Imperial and Byzantine epochs.
the North Agora, built in the Hadrianic-Antonine age, constitutes a unique context in the panorama of the ancient building sites of Hierapolis, given its very huge dimensions, its architectural layout and the extensive use of white marbles. the focus of this paper is the strategies adopted for the procurement of marble by the building sites of both the lateral stoai and the stoa-basilica. the systematic sampling showed different criteria guiding the selection of stone materials used in the buildings surrounding the square. the paper discusses the factors which conditioned the selection of particular varieties of local marbles during the construction.
Maschek, D. 2016. The Marble Stoa at Hierapolis. Materials, Labour Force and Building Costs
The Marble Stoa at Hierapolis was a representative marble portico, which was funded by a local elite family in the middle of the 1st century AD. The aim of this paper is to assess the socio-economic dimensions of this building project by a tentative reconstruction of its logistics, schedule and labour force. Pre-industrial construction techniques and the management of building materials and human resources are put into perspective by the comparison with data derived from 19th century building manuals. The construction effort is estimated in man-hours and man-days. Based on this estimate, a model for the organization of the building site, the most probable duration of the building project and the seasonal demands for unskilled and skilled workers are elaborated. This estimate is finally translated into hypothetical building costs by drawing upon the evidence for wages and prices under the early Empire. The results of this analysis do not only add to our understanding of wider socio-economic processes, but also to a more differentiated assessment of local euergetism in Roman Asia Minor.
Ismaelli_Scardozzi_Ancient Quarries and Building Sites_index.pdf
This volume presents the results of the Marmora Phrygiae Project, financed by the Italian Ministry of Education, University and Research (MIUR – Ministero dell’Istruzione, dell’Università e della Ricerca) as part of the “Futuro in Ricerca” programme (FIRB 2012). In the period 2013-2016, following a multidisciplinary approach, the project sought to reconstruct the building stone procurement strategies adopted in the city of Hierapolis in Phrygia (Turkey), across a broad chronological time span from the Hellenistic epoch to the Byzantine period. Extensive knowledge of the territory surrounding the city and detailed research into its monuments provided the basis for a painstaking historical reconstruction. The volume describes the economic, social, technological and legal aspects of the use of marble and presents the results of the archaeometric investigations that were conducted in order to characterise the building stones, determine their provenance and assess the state of conservation of the monuments. In addition, the volume illustrates recent research conducted by teams of various nationalities into the marble quarrying districts and monumental complexes of the main settlements of south-western Asia Minor in the Imperial and Byzantine epochs.
The paper focuses on the Marble Stoa and the Gymnasium, two public buildings constructed in Hierapolis in the central decades of the 1st century AD. The buildings are essentially composed of porticoes with a single nave and a Doric-order colonnade, and constitute the exact transposition of the same design, from the point of view of proportions, dimensions and mouldings. The archaeometric examination of the marble façades offers an opportunity for a broader reflection on the planning process, building site procedures and procurement strategies adopted for these “twin” buildings.
Ancient marble quarries in the territory of Hierapolis
in G. Scardozzi, T. Ismaelli (eds.), Ancient quarries and building sites in Asia Minor, Bibliotecha Archaeologica, Bari 2016, pp. 87-100., 2016
L'autore ha il diritto di stampare o diffondere copie di questo PDF esclusivamente per uso scientifico o didattico. Edipuglia si riserva di mettere in vendita il PDF, oltre alla versione cartacea. L'autore ha diritto di pubblicare in internet il PDF originale allo scadere di 24 mesi.
9 see lIMonCellI in this volume, 43-60. 10 see the papers by DITaRanTo, bRIllI ET ALII and koRalay in this volume, 87-130. 11 see the various papers in Chapter IV. 12 For an example of this approach, see also lonG in this volume, 681-692. 13 In this regard, see PonT in this volume, 733-742. 14 see the various papers in Chapter V. 15 see MasChek in this volume, 393-402. 16 In this regard, see D'anDRIa in this volume, 27-32. 17 see the various papers in Chapter VI. In this regard, see also MaTTeInI in this volume, 753-760.
2018
This research aims to deepen knowledge on geomaterials used in building operations of a very important monumental complex belonging to the "Porta Mediana" necropolis the archeological site of Cuma. The entire site counts 70 mausoleums among which, the one named "Sphinx complex" or A63, is particularly important. For its realization several geomaterials have been used. Analytical results were carried out from several techniques such as optical microscopy, microchemical and mineralogical-petrographical analysis, scanning electron microscopy with EDS and X-ray powder diffraction. This approach allows to clarify the provenance of natural geomaterials and also the technological processes involved in the production of artificial geomaterials (mortars, plasters, cocciopesto). Phlegrean tuffs, due to their easy workability and good mechanical features, were used mainly for masonries and for decorative function (a bas-relief of a "sphinx" for example). As far as artificial geomaterials are concerned, the use of a volcanic aggregate, was privileged too. Some examples of imported stones were also found: limestones and marbles, the first one implemented as a building material for cippi of the fence while the second one for prestigious coating elements. Results permitted to evaluate building techniques of the period and mainly the wide potential of Phlegrean fields' materials when used as a bulding stone. This research aims also to give important informations for restoring and conservative actions useful for mausoleums of the entire site.